Most eastern Indian mediaeval manuscripts are written on palm leaves cut from the palm plant, and the size of the pages reflected limitations in the size of the palm leaf itself. Moreover, palm leaves become brittle with age, and were probably perceived to have an optimal size of no longer than about 50 cm. No such practical considerations governed the size of Tibetan books, which were written on paper imported from China. As the pages grew, so did the size and weight of their covers. Only a strap was needed to secure the covers when they enclosed the manuscript, although a cloth was also sometimes used to further wrap the manuscript and thus keep it free of dust and smoke when not in use.
Text is written on both sides of the pages of Tibetan books.
When the upper cover is removed and inverted, the title is read on the first page. It is then turned over to read its verso and when finished, placed on top of the already inverted cover and so on, to the end of the volume. Though plentiful in portions of eastern Tibet, hardwood is relatively rare in central Tibet. Thus, little expense was spared in producing these large wooden covers, reflecting the importance of the texts which they bound and protected, Magnificently carved, gilded and painted, these works were once highly treasured by Tibetan monasteries, where they were stacked by the hundreds in an orderly display. The sacred content of their libraries met a similar fate.