CCB Library's Guide to Backing Books

CCB Library’s Guide to…

Backing Your Books!

1. Cut a length of sticky back plastic, making sure that it will fit all the way round the front and back cover of the book. Make sure you leave about a 1.5cm margin round each side.

2. Place the plastic on a desk with the paper side facing upwards. Place the book on the plastic around 1.5cm from each edge, and cut towards the corner of the book, as indicated on the diagrams below.

3. Peel back a small amount of the paper covering, then very carefully line up the corners of your book with the flap you’ve cut, as shown in the diagram below.

4. Carefully fold the flap of plastic over the front cover of the book.

5. Slowly start to peel the paper away from underneath the book. Stop when you have just passed the spine.

6. Cut a diagonal line in the plastic towards the spine to create a flap at the top and bottom of the book, as indicated below, then carefully fold the plastic over and onto the inside of the cover.

7. Turn the book over so the front cover is facing upwards, and the back of the book is now on the plastic. If you have a long piece of plastic left, trim it down to make it smaller, but leave at least 1.5cm.

8. Carefully peel the remaining paper away from underneath the book.

9. Cut flaps as indicated on the picture below, and carefully fold round the back cover of the book.

10. Cut off the remainder of the plastic at the top and bottom of the book, and you’re done!