Book repair is accessible to the ordinary person. One of the most common forms of book repair is called casing-in. This become necessary when the endpages of the book have become so worn that the book becomes detached from the cover. The book can be repaired by replacing the endpapers and regluing the spine of the book to its cover.

Hinges of a book whose spine has become loose can be tightened. Using glue and a knitting needle, and some waxed paper, you can reglue the loosened portion to the book. Place the paper between the endpages after you have applied the glue, using the knitting needle, inside the loosened part of the cover. You can then place a heavy object on top of the book (make sure it's flat, or that there's a small flat surface between the book and the heavy object) while the glue is drying.

If some splitting has occurred between the endpages, some hinge tape will easily remedy the problem.

There are two types of book bindings; glued and sewn. If your book is sewn, and it's split or come loose, you will need to have it resewn by a professional.

However, in some cases you may be able to repair a glued binding. For example, if the spine of your book's cover has come clean off, you can reattach it. Removing the spine, and being careful to not cut through the book's hinges, you can use cloth tape to reattach it. Old glue and paper must be scraped off the interior spine. Using acid-free adhesive and cloth tape, the spine can now be reattached. Brodart materials are generally preferred for this sort of book repair.

If a book has little value, you can just use hot glue. However if it is particularly valuable, or highly valuable, have it repaired by a professional.

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