Frequently Asked Questions

Should I even have my book repaired?

Sometimes the right answer is no. If your book shows a lifetime of use and you want to keep it that way, an archival case holds it together and protects it exactly as it is, wear and all. Tell me what the book means to you and I'll give you my take, even if it's "protect it, don't fix it."

What's the difference between repair and restoration?

Repair makes your book work again: hinges hold, pages stay put, the book opens and closes. But a repaired book doesn't look untouched. You may see a tissue mend on a torn page, new spine cloth won't match the old exactly, and a repaired hinge moves differently than a new one.

Restoration tries to make a book look new again. It's more invasive and much more expensive, and on old books it wipes away the wear that's part of the story. I do repair, not restoration.

My book is rare or valuable. Is repair appropriate?

For rare books, the lightest touch is usually the right call: protect the book, don't restore it. A mylar jacket protector or an archival case holds it as it is. If you're hoping for a full restoration, that's beyond what I do, and I may not be the right fit for what you have in mind.

Do you work on leather books?

Not at this time. My practice is fabric repairs and archival cases.

What books don't align with your services?

Books that are deteriorated throughout, and anything with mold, heavy smoke, or water damage.

Also outside my line of work: washing or stain removal, tape removal, page cleaning, odor removal, jacket recoloring, facsimile jackets, gilt edges, vellum bindings, thesis or magazine binding, photo albums, board books, comic pressing, loose maps or posters, and appraisals. If your book needs any of these, I'll let you know.

How do estimates work?

Your photo estimate is a range, not a final price. Books hide damage I can't see in photos. After your book arrives, I inspect it in hand and send a final invoice with the full repairs listed. Nothing happens without your approval.

How do I pay?

You'll get an invoice by email and pay it online, whether you mail your book in or drop it off locally.

The deposit ($50 for the first book, $25 for each additional book in the same box) books your inspection, which happens within five business days of your book's arrival. The deposit is non-refundable and comes off your final total if you move forward. It covers the inspection and round-trip Media Mail if you choose it, which isn't insured.

The final invoice is due within 7 days. Once it's paid, your slot in the repair schedule is reserved.

How long will it take?

After your final invoice is paid, I'll give you a start date based on the lineup. Books ship back about 3 to 5 weeks after work begins, including drying time. If you have a deadline, tell me up front and I'll tell you whether it's possible.

Return shipping is USPS Media Mail, 2 to 8 business days in transit; West Coast customers should expect the longer end.

How do I ship my book to you?

Pack it well and we'll sort out the shipping together. Round-trip Media Mail is covered by your deposit if you choose it, and isn't insured.

If your book is high-value or deeply sentimental, my number one recommendation is USPS Registered Mail: declare its value and hand it to a clerk at the post office. I'll return it the same way, with the return postage on your deposit invoice so it's covered either way. Or drop off locally by appointment.

If I'm just getting an archival case made, do I need to send my book in?

Yes. Every case is built to fit your specific book, so I need it in hand to get the fit right. While it's here I'll also confirm the best case style for it. Round-trip Media Mail shipping is covered by your deposit if you choose it.

What if my repair fails?

If you spot a failure in my work within 14 days of delivery, send me photos and I'll repair it again free of charge. Before your book ships, you'll get a video of the finished work, so we both know how it left the studio.

That covers my workmanship, not new damage afterward or normal wear over time. This guarantee is for books you own and keep; it doesn't apply to books bought for resale.

What if the final invoice is more than I expected?

That's completely fine. If you decline the final invoice, or it goes unpaid after 14 days, the non-refundable deposit covers the inspection and return shipping, and your book ships back as-is. Or we can scale back to just an archival case, which keeps the book safe on the shelf until you're ready for the full repair. You can always reach out later if you'd like the full repair.

Is my book insured in the mail?

Standard shipping isn't insured. Your deposit covers free round-trip USPS Media Mail without insurance if you choose it, and that's deliberate: shipping insurance only pays the market value of a commercial product. A repaired book doesn't have one.

For high-value or deeply sentimental books, ship USPS Registered Mail and declare its value. It's the most secure way USPS moves anything: locked up and signed for at every handoff, with coverage up to the declared value (maximum $50,000). If the book is lost or damaged, USPS pays its actual value or the cost of repairing it. It's a counter-only service: you hand the package to a clerk at the post office, and it costs roughly $45 to $60. I'll send your book back the same way, with the return postage on your deposit invoice.

Please use an address where packages land safely. Standard shipping is uninsured in both directions, so if your book is one you couldn't stand to lose in the mail, USPS Registered Mail is the way to send it.

What's the best way to reach you?

Please start with the request form. It asks what I need to know to help you best, and I'll reply by text or email, whichever you prefer. If you reach out by text or email first, I'll point you to the form so we make the best use of your time. If we need to talk, I can schedule a quick 15-minute call. Calls are recorded so we both have a record, and anything we decide gets confirmed in writing afterward.

My book comes from a home where people smoked inside. Will you take it?

If the smoke smell is faint, only noticeable when you hold the book up to your nose, I'm glad to take your book. Heavy smoke, the kind you can smell standing next to the book, I don't take.

What kinds of damage can't you take?

Water damage, fire damage, mold, heavy smoke, and vermin residue. These work through the whole book or spread to the other books in my care, and no repair can fix them.

What about book pests?

Please check your book for the usual culprits before you send it: silverfish, booklice, carpet beetles, cigarette beetles, and bookworms. Fan the pages open over a white sheet of paper in good light and look for tiny live insects, shed skins, or dark specks. If you see anything, tell me in your request and don't send the book.

I inspect every book on arrival, outside. If I find signs of pests, the book is sealed up and sent straight back to you as-is. The deposit covers the return shipping if you chose the free Media Mail option.

I don't treat for pests, because the treatment options can weaken the adhesives and materials a repair depends on.