The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-02-03
20. 900 DAMAGED BOOKS
REPAIRED In 2 COUNTIES
Good Work Shown In Results Of
WPA Mending Projects in Gar
rett and Allegany Counties
3,451 COMPLETED HERE

More than 10000 damaged public
library and school books have been
renovated and restored to use by the
WPA book mending projects in Allie
gany and Garrett counties.
These Statewide book mending
projects are sponsored by the Mary
land Library Commission, Miss AIDE
lene Pratt, director.
Because of these projects several
thousand dollars have been saved by
school boards and libraries to use for
the purchase of new books.
In Allegany and Garrett counties
there are six units of the project.
These are operating in Cumberland,
Homecoming, Westernport and Oak
land. The county school boards and Ii
brary boards of the two counties are
contributing space, use of equipment
and materials for the project.
The workers have; not only been
provided employment, but they are
learning useful occupation to pursue
when WPA library projects are over.
Books repaired and completed in
Garrett county, by workers of its one
project at Oakland, totaled 3,451. This
project was started here February 16,
1887, and at the end of eighteen
months there will be $3.50 volumes
renovated and completed and again
put into circulation. There are five
workers employed on the Garrett
county project. Workers have been
employed on these projects in Allie
gany county since early in 1886.
Cataloging And Circulation
In addition to repairing worn out
books, the workers have helped in the
cataloging and circulation Of books.
Through their help, 10000 volumes
have been loaned and 1000 books cat
alleged in Allegany and Garrett coun-
ties
Books no longer disable are collected
and sent to the nearest WPA book
mending unit. Here they are sorted.
Those which are past mending are
saved to supply missing pages for
other books in better condition.
Then the books are cleaned The
workers examine the book for missing
pages, remove pencil marks and wash
each page. They mend each torn page
and neatly "tip in" the missing pages
taken from discarded books. If these
missing pages cannot be found, from
discarded books, type written copy
of the page is made and inserted
The books are then taken from their
worn out jackets. The workers put the
contents in a clamp, drill small holes
through the book with a hand drill, or
awl, and sew with the best grade linen
thread which gives the book even
greater strength than it had when
new.
Employ Absolute Accuracy
Then comes the recasing and actual
binding process which requires abso-
lutte accuracy Of measurement. When
the old backs cannot be used. heavy
binder boards are cut and covered
with specially prepared waterproof
cloth for the covers. The fabric and
lining must fit perfectly TO obtain a
,,ao+ly. E,iel,od ,,,,od,,o4
The final step is the lettering. The
worker marks with the electric stylus
the title, autor and library number on
the back of the book This finishes the
operation and the book is ready for
use When a comparison is made of
this neatly mended and lettered copy
with one ready for renovating the re-
suit seems almost miraculous, accord
ing to Mrs Cora G. Perry, supervisor
of library projects for Allegany and
Garrett counties.
Supervisors check each operation on
every book, and where faulty work
manship is found, the book is returned
to the employe responsible. p.
Each worker does every process on
the book to be restored. When it is
completed she inserts sticker with
the date and her name on it. Because
the book members take great pride in
their own completed work, few books
are returned for correction
The school officials and Librarians of
Garrett and Allegany counties are
gratifed with the high class of work
done. r.'b
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