What does the abbreviation "afb" mean when used as a book description on pages of this website?
It is the abbreviation for "acid-free binders." We use these binders to replace the covers of publications which have either disintegrated or have been damaged. These binders provide a way of preserving valuable documents and giving them some extra protection even in high-use settings. Acid-free binders are constructed from blue-gray, acid-free, lignin-free, 60-pt. barrier board which has a pH of 8.0-9.0 and a 3% calcium carbonate buffer. The spine of the acid-free binders is composed of gray cambric cloth and the adhesive, green cloth material which binds the publication into place uses a neutral pH, polyvinyl acetate adhesive. In addition, these binders have a white lining and are not photo-reactive.
We use acid-free binders to repair all older publications which have damaged covers, especially early United States Geological Survey Professional Papers and Bulletins which typically have a cover that is loose or is disintegrating. When possible, we use as much of the the original publication's title page as possible and attach it to the cover of the new acid-free binder to preserve as much of the original publication as possible. The interior of most older publications preserve very well as they were printed on better grade paper with a higher pH; only the covers are typically a problem. All acid-free binder work is done "in-house" which allows us to prepare publications for resale without having the time delay and added expensive of using a book bindery for these repairs. Please note below that we attach a label on the spine of each binder so you can locate the publications with ease.
Several examples of our work are included here for your examination:
Home Page of MS Book and Mineral
List of Catalogs on this website