When a page is damaged beyond repair or has been previously mended with
clear plastic tape, it may have to be replaced to keep the book usable. If a page is missing entirely, the only option is to replace the page.
Check to see if a library has a second copy of the damaged book to use to photocopy a replacement page.
The photocopy paper will probably be larger than the book so the page(s) will need to be trimmed to fit the book. Replacement pages add thickness to the spine that can cause it to swell or split. Usually only 3 or 4 replacement pages can be safely inserted. All pages should be photocopied front and back to keep the added thickness to a minimum. All photocopied pages need to have a 3/4 – 1” wide inner margin for tipping or hinging into a book. The margins of the copied page should be uniform. The text on both sides should be in alignment.
Replacement pages that fold out of the book, such as maps, should be copied in sections, hinged together, then trimmed to text block height.
Single-sided copies should be aligned with the upper right hand corner of the paper. Since most books are not the same size as photocopy paper, it will be easiest to photocopy each page, cut and paste them into the correct position on a single sheet of paper, and then photocopy that page front and back. The edge margins can be trimmed to the correct size after the page is copied.
Use a light table or work with an outside window to line up the print and margins on the two pages for the correct placement. Use a light table or work on an outside window to line up the print and margins on the two pages for the correct placement.
If the cut and pasted photocopy came directly from the book, the finished replacement page will be a second generation copy. The more generations a copy is from the original, the less clear the print will be.
If possible, use acid-free bond paper to make copies for replacement pages.
Regular bond paper is acidic and can cause future damage to the book.
Acid-free bond can be more expensive than regular photocopy paper but one package of acid-free paper will last a long time if it is only used for photocopying replacement pages. Acid-free paper is also available in 11 x 14” and 11 x 17”. These larger sizes can be useful when replacing end sheets printed with maps or printed information.
Some photocopy machines have double-sided copy features, but it is not always best to use this feature. When a photocopy machine has a doublesided copy feature two separate paper trays are used, one outside the machine to load the paper and one inside the machine to store the paper between the first and second printing steps. Using two different paper trays often means the margins on the two sides of paper do not line up correctly. Each machine is different so experiment to see how a particular machine works.
If a photocopy machine does not have a double-sided copy feature or it does not make accurate double-sided copies, double-sided photocopies can still be made by copying the first page and then manually re-inserting the paper into the paper tray to print the second. For proper registration, IT IS IMPORTANT TO USE THE SAME LEADING EDGE OF PAPER IN BOTH PROCEDURES. There may still be a difference in the margins but it will be consistent each time and the cut and pasted copy can be readjusted to compensate for it. For instance, the second page of copy might need to be 3/8” lower than the first for the final copy to be even on both pages.
It may take several attempts to determine the correct difference between page 1 and page 2.
Trim the finished copy to the correct height then tip-in (using the instructions in the tipping in post ) or hinge-in (using the hinging in instructions post). Trim the fore edge to the correct width.
