Because of these physical problems, take extra care during processing. If there is any suspicion of mold or insect activity, seal book in a plastic bag and forward to Preservation for assessment. During processing, clip bookplates, barcodes, and other paperwork to a flag and insert carefully into the center of the book. Don't clip anything to the brittle pages themselves. Never clip paperwork directly to the title page.
Rubber bands can break the edges of fragile pages.
Avoid using rubber bands and use plastic bags instead for protection or to hold loose pieces together. Brittle books, especially paperbacks, may not be strong enough to shelve upright on a shelf or book truck. Keep the physical condition in mind when deciding how and where to shelve the fragile items. Take extra care protecting fragile materials during shipping. Use bubble-wrap or extra packing paper to support the items.