Bound Volumes
Completing and Maintaining Your Set of Bound Volumes
Want to complete a bound volume set? Need to replace deteriorating volumes? The Christian Science Literature Joint Distribution Committee can help! Send us a list of the Journal, Sentinel, and Herald volumes you need, with color/style preferences (Send us a photo of your set for closest matching). We’ll send you the best we have available. We may ask for yours in exchange. Please allow several weeks for processing your request.
Binding and Rebinding
Christian Science churches and Reading Rooms used to routinely create their own bound volumes using a local book bindery. That's why early volumes come in so many unique colors and styles. There are bound Heralds, Monitors, Quarterlies, even pamphlets. Professional binding preserves delicate literature long term, although not inexpensive.
Eventually, covers deteriorate, especially with active use. Old leather can easily tear. As an alternative to replacing your deteriorated volumes, you can have yours re-bound so they look new again and match your set exactly. Send instructions and examples from previous years to the bindery.
Here’s a bindery that is still in business, and recently estimated re-binding costs in the range of $35 per volume:
HF Group Binding Services (Formerly Houchen Bindery)
340 First St, Utica, NE 68456 - Phone: 402-534-2261
Adopt or Foster Bound Volumes
To prevent bound volume sets from being destroyed, there is a need for temporary and long term storage for sets, as the need arises. Churches, other organizations, and individuals can foster or adopt a full or partial set. You can have more than one set. We know of one local church that has 3 complete sets: one in the Reading Room, one behind the church auditorium, and one in a committee room. Do you have space? Please contact us! Help us keep our religious literary heritage out of the recycle bin.
But Why Bother?
Have you ever noticed how lawyers and politicians stand in front of a shelf of bound volumes when they have a public relations photo opportunity or do interviews with television media? That is intentional. Bound volumes provide an impactful first impression, an image of authority and respectability. The same is true for Christian Science Reading Rooms and practitioner offices. Furthermore, nothing says "this is NOT Scientology" like a well-displayed CS Journal or Sentinel bound volume set. The public relations value alone is well worth the on-going expense to maintain your set in beautiful condition.
For a deeper dive into reasons for continuing to maintain sets of bound Christian Science periodicals, here’s a treatment that covers a lot of ground.