When you are in the REPAIR Lab, we see books printed anywhere from the 1800s to just a month ago. The type of paper, how papers are formed into text blocks, and how paper text blocks are attached to book casings all contribute to a book’s lifespan. Keep in mind that a book's very composition and structure along with how it is handled determines the types of damage we will see in the REPAIR Lab.
The text part of the book is written on it, but what exactly is "paper"? Depending on the age and origin of the book, it could be quite a few things. Paper has been made from many different materials through millennia. Watch these videos on 4 common base materials: papyrus, animal skin, rags, and wood chips.
