Brittle Books
Books identified as "brittle " do not circulate and have a status of "brittle" in the library catalog
Brittle books have fragile, often breaking and yellowed paper. This is a world-wide problem and is inherent to a vast number of books published from around 1850 through modern times. It was caused by the introduction of ground wood pulp, impurities such as lignin, and acidic sizing materials including alum into the modern paper making process. Just opening and turning the pages of a book in an advanced state of deterioration from acid hydrolysis can cause the pages to break off or crumble, thereby losing printed information.
Brittle books are generally too weak to be repaired. A reformatted version, such as a reprint, microfilm, microfiche, electronic version or preservation photocopy is often used to replace a brittle original. If a book or portion of a periodical set has been found to be brittle, it may be transferred to the
Retrospective Research Collection Center (RRCC) on Cedar Road or the
Iron Mountain/ National Underground Storage facility in Pennsylvania to limit handling and to keep it in a better (colder, dryer, darker, more stable) environment than is possible here.
While extremely brittle books do not usually circulate, they can always be used with care at the library or at the Retrospective Research Collection Center. Check first to see if a reformatted version (reprint, photocopy, microform, electronic title) of the book is available on the library catalog. If not, or if you need to see the original, any brittle book requested from RRCC Monday through Friday can be brought here within 24 hours for your use.
For same-day service, staff members can fax the request to the RRCC. Brittle books requested over the weekend will be brought to KSL the following Monday afternoon. Books can be retrieved from Iron Mountain in 2 days. To request a book or journal from storage or Iron Mountain, fill out the
Retrospective Research Collection Center Retrieval Request Form or the
Iron Mountain Retrieval Request Form.The form is also available from the Service desk at KSL.
You are also welcome to visit the Retrospective Research Collection Center (on Cedar Road) on weekdays and use the books there by making an appointment. Appointments can be made to visit the RRCC by calling Ron Chambers at 216-368-4319.
If a brittle item is valuable for your research and you feel its routine use is warrented, please notify or call the Preservation Department (sxg7@case.edu, 216-368-3465)or Circulation staff. Consideration and efforts will be made to provide such items in a more serviceable format.
Please handle brittle books with extra care, and do not photocopy! If you need a copy of some pages, bring the book to the Preservation Department (Kelvin Smith Library, Room LL-23). A staff member will copy the pages you need on a planetary scanner without causing damage to the book.