BINDING OF PERIODICALS IN THE NATIONAL LENDING LIBRARY

The binding policies for periodicals in the majority of libraries are very similar. In the main they are designed for libraries which are primarily reference libraries. Often the appearance on the shelf is the main consideration. In many cases the size of the bound volume is determined by the publisher and not by considerations of use, with the result that many libraries contain some monster volumes. The question of designing a periodical binding policy for a lending library has received very little consideration, possibly because the main lending libraries in the country—the public libraries—pay little attention to periodical material.