Staff training is important here again, so that everyone realizes that preservation is everyones job and takes place all the time. Libraries can be creative here with publicity efforts, such as producing bookmarks with preservation information, and small steps, such as providing plastic bags to patrons during the rain. This addresses what you can do to help preserve individual items. Bindings should conform to Library Binding Institute standards. To enhance the visual appeal of bound books, the original jackets can be saved and reused.
Some binders can scan the cover image and include it in the binding itself.
Simple book repairs, which include hinge tightening, and fixing paper tears and damaged jackets, can hold off the need for complicated, expensive repairs later on. Regarding the question of whether to copy or reformat materials for preservation, a variety of strategies are available, depending again on the nature of the collection and patron base. These range from simply purchasing a reprint of the item to preservation photocopying. Some vendors are now publishing out of print items on demand, bypassing the need for older materials to come back into print. As for digital copying, at present this strategy is good for access but more problematic for preservation.