Historical Aspects of Librarian and Library Binder Relationship

As the Library Binding Institute (LBI) celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, some librarians may wonder about its origin.  Does the organization exist to create business for a specialized group of bookbinders or is there a genuine concern for the preservation of the written word and collections maintenance? Librarians may ask about the need for preventive maintenance programs in the digital age.  These are all valid questions that deserve answers.