Book Binding Company | Book Binding Service

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1.800.941.3735 724.287.2120

1124 Oneida Valley Road, Chicora, PA 16025-3820

BOOKS...MADE TO ORDER

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BOOKBINDING

How can I get my Bible rebound?

Go to our home page and click on "Bibles" under "Restoration/Rebinding" on the right side of the page. The Bible Rebinding page will show you our prices for our standard rebinding service, and will give you options for selecting our deluxe binding package, snap-case bindings, or family bible bindings.

Each of these options has an order form (click on "Order Now") on which you can enter your contact, shipping, and payment information, as well as your choices of cover materials and flexibility; colors of cover, ribbons and foil stamping, etc. After you complete the form (one for each book,) print it out and ship it (by whatever means you prefer) with your bible in a sturdy box to the address on the order form. Please do not attempt to email the form to us.

We will email or phone you with an estimate soon after we receive your bible. The estimate will not include shipping/handling costs or tax, unless requested. When the work is finished, we will charge your credit card, if that is the method of payment you prefer, and return your bible to you. Please keep in mind that the time of service does not include the time required for shipping.

Does rebinding an old book lessen the value?

When a book needs rebinding the value is reflected by its current condition. In other words, the value has decreased because it is in the condition that requires repair. Rebinding will bring the value of the book much closer to that of the same book in its original binding, but seldom to the same level.

How long does it take to get a book rebound?

It depends on the time of year and the current work load. Generally, allow 6-8 weeks for rebinding or restoration work. We are flexible and can usually work with you for special events and deadlines. We also offer a special rush service.

How much does restoration cost?

There is no set price for restoration work due to the wide variety of books and the scope of work required. We will be happy to examine your book and provide you with a no-obligation quote.

Can I use my current printing company and have my books bound at Mechling Bookbindery?

Yes, we work closely with printing companies and publishers. Tell them you want your books bound here.

PRINTING

What is the difference between digital printing and offset printing?

Digital printing uses dry toner or ink cartridges to print images or text directly from a computer, usually with a bubble-jet or laser process. Offset printing is conventional printing using a printing press and the lithographic process, which is based on the repulsion of oil and water. A plate is produced with the image and is installed on the printing press. The image to be printed obtains ink from ink rollers, while the non-printing area attracts a water-based solution, keeping the non-printing areas ink-free. From there, the image is transferred to the paper. Generally, digital printing is the most economical way to print small quantities while offset printing is best utilized for longer print runs. Both methods produce high quality imaging.

What is the smallest quantity of books I can have printed?

One! Yes, we can do as few as one book. Prices per book, however, are drastically reduced as the quantity of books printed increases.

How long does it take to get a book printed?

This is not an easy question to answer because it depends on a number of factors. If we must provide layout and design, for example, it will take longer than it would if we received the book in the finished state. Time of year and current workload are also considerations. Generally, though, most books can be completed in 3-6 weeks.

Can I scan my own photographs?

Yes, most scanners are able to produce a decent quality photo image, provided the scanner settings are correct. Images that appear to be satisfactory on your monitor are not always optimal for printing. We are happy to work with you to get the best quality from your files. We can also scan your photographs for you to attain the maximum quality from your photographs.

Can photographs that are copied on a color or black-and-white copier or printed out on my printer be used?

NO! Never. The quality of the image is lost and poor reproduction will result. For the best quality you must scan original photographs.

Can I use photographs taken from internet sites?

In most cases you cannot use images placed on the web. To shorten loading time when viewing, most websites have images that have been reduced by resizing and lowering the resolution. Some sites may have downloadable files that are high resolution which may be fine for reproduction. In addition, copyright laws apply to website content. Written permission may have to be secured from the copyright owner to use their material. Public and government works are not protected by copyright laws, and therefore, do not require permission to be reproduced.

PUBLISHING

What is the difference between publishing and self-publishing?

When you have a book published, the publisher finances the printing, distribution and marketing of your book. You do not have any money invested at all. The publisher owns the books and makes all decisions on pricing and marketing. You are paid a royalty for every book sold.

Self-publishing means YOU become the publisher. You pay for the books and do all of the selling. You also get to keep the profits.

How do I get my book published?

You must find a publisher interested in your work. Small publishers often specialize in a particular field and are only interested in publishing books on that subject. At Mechling Bookbindery we are only interested in publishing books on western Pennsylvania, especially history and genealogy. Although we may not be interested in publishing the subject matter of your book, we will be happy to produce your self-published work.

What does it cost to have a book published?

If we accept your manuscript for publishing, you will not have any money invested at all. We will pay the cost of printing, binding and marketing the books, and you will receive a royalty on every book sold.

How can I get an ISBN number for my book?

If we are publishing your book, we will assign an ISBN number and an LOC (Library of Congress) number. We will also provide a barcode. If you are self-publishing, you will need to apply and purchase an ISBN number on your own. Click here for more information.

How do I register my book with the Library of Congress?

You can register on your own or we can do it for you. The cost to have us do the registration is $25 plus we must send a copy at no charge to the LOC. The fee we charge is for the paperwork and shipping cost of the book.

Do I need a copyright for my book?

When a work is created in fixed form, it is automatically under copyright protection. You can simply add the copyright symbol, date and the name of the copyright owner to the back of the title page. You are not required to register with the Copyright Office, though there are certain advantages to doing so. In particular, you would have the legal right to file suit against infringement.

How do I apply for a copyright?

You must register your work with the Copyright Office; a fee is required. Go to www.copyright.gov. or call (202) 707-3000 for more information.

Do I need a barcode and how do I get one?

Barcodes are only necessary if you intend to sell your books to bookstores that require a barcode for retail scanning. Many independent bookstores will take your book even if it doesn't have a barcode. We can provide you with the barcode, the fee is $25.

Can I use copyrighted material?

Material published prior to the 1970's could be granted a 37 1/2 year copyright. It could be renewed for one additional term of 37 1/2 years or a total of 75 years. Basically, anything copyrighted more than 75 years ago is now public domain. Public Domain means that it is now free to anyone to use for any purpose in part or in whole without penalty or fees. Anyone who then uses that material may copyright the part or whole of it as their own; however, only that version or printing of the work will be copyrighted, not the original. In other words, I can reprint a public domain book and add my copyright. You cannot copy MY book to reproduce it, but anyone can still copy and use material directly from the original.

COMPUTER FILES

What file types do you accept?

We accept the following file types:

Microsoft - Word (.doc), Publisher (.pub), Excel (.xls), Works (.doc) & Word Perfect (.doc)

Adobe - InDesign (.indd), PageMaker (.pmd), Photoshop (.psd, .eps, .tiff), Acrobat (.pdf) &

Illustrator (.ai)

What is the difference between EPS, TIFF and JPG file formats?

EPS and TIFF are the best file formats for professional printing; they are high-quality, high-resolution and not lossy. JPG files are considered lossy, which means that when they are saved, they compress the data by throwing tiny bits of it away. Lossy formats degrade and lose pixel information every time you open them. JPG file formats were created mainly for use on the internet, so they usually emphasize size over quality.

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