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Gordon Rennie
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Gordon Rennie

Historic Photographs
David Oswald
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Gordon Rennie
Historic Photographs
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Gordon Rennie
In this photo, Gordon Rennie is getting ready to attach book covers using glue which is heating up in the pot next to him.

The 1970-71 Report records that the bindery department had labelled and lettered 24,718 books, repaired 3,467 volumes and rebound 139 volumes. Unfortunately, binding costs had risen by 30% so only a fraction of the stock requiring rebinding could be worked on.

On the wall beyond Mr Rennie we can see an array of switches for the book hoist - a small lift which could be opened at every floor making it easy to transport books between departments. It still operates today although it now has locked exterior doors for health and safety reasons.
When Mr and Mrs Rennie retired in the 1980s, Raymond Vass, who had been undertaking his apprenticeship in the Library, carried on the bookbinding duties until the 1990s.

By this time, library book suppliers were sending books already in their plastic covers and self-adhesive labels replaced the gilt lettering on the spines of books. As part of their duties, library assistants could attach labels and replace damaged jackets. Only major rebinding and conservation work needed to be sent to companies such as Cedric Chivers of Bath or Dunn and Wilson of Falkirk.
Aberdeen Central Library
Libraries
LIB01_16
Aberdeen Local Studies
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