Our First Question! Matt P. from South Windsor, CT asks, “I’ve been carrying my notebook in my back pocket for about 5 months. The binding is falling apart. Is there anything I can do to save it?”

Great question!  Unfortunately, this has happened to me on several occasions.  First things first.  Triage!  Is it fixable?  I’m sure a quick google search could provide a tutorial about book-binding and you could use that as a guide on how to proceed.  But since you asked me, I’ll tell you what I’ve done in the past.

In a pinch I’ve used several crossing layers of transparent tape.  Packing tape has been the best but scotch tape will work.  That said, the best thing is to use glue on the spine if possible.  Then, hold it shut and tight with a clamp or a heavy book until dry.  Finally, consider sealing the torn pages with tape.  Bear in mind that glue can affect your notebook’s ability to lay flat.

Finally, it’s time to consider whether you were just being too hard on your notebook or whether it’s a quality issue.  Either way you might want to look for a sturdier notebook in the future.

As an example, the Rhodia Webnotebook I got a few years ago is about the toughest notebook I’ve found.  I’m not saying that it could repel a Mongol Horde, but I’m not saying it wouldn’t either.  No word on whether they are still made that well.  Lemome makes a cool notebook that seems tough as nails and lays very flat.  I haven’t used it yet so I can’t comment on it’s horde resistance.

Thanks for the question!