A Review of Paper Quality and Paper Chemistry

HANDMADE PAPER OF THE Middle Ages and earlier, housed in the rare book rooms of libraries, is often in excellent condition. The machinemade paper of the last 150 years, in the general collection, is as often brittle and crumbling. The failure of machine-made paper to endure has been a disaster for the records of this civilization. Recently, however, methods of making long-lasting paper on the paper machine have been developed. Now there is reason for optimism. The new paper not only shows improved life, but is more economical to produce, causes less erosion of the paper-making equipment, and gives a cleaner effluent, or none. Companies have been changing to the new methods, particularly in Europe. American producers are lagging behind. This situation must not be allowed to continue. The problem of caring for disintegrating books in American libraries is already unmanageable and should not be allowed to grow larger. Now is the time for librarians, bibliophiles and, indeed the paper-makers to unite toensure that long-lasting paper is again available and used in publishing.