Photocopying can easily damage books by putting undue pressure on spines as they are bent back to lie flat on the glass screen. If the paper is brittle, this will crumble or break the paper at stress points. As most of the machines found in libraries are not meant to copy facing pages in bound books, special care must be taken to avoid damaging the book. Photocopying should be done carefully by inverting the book, gently placing it atop the glass screen, covering the book with the machine flap lightly, and copying. Apply no more than light pressure to the spine.

There are copiers with edge platens or other features that allow a book page to be copied with the book open only to 90 degrees instead of 180 degrees, but these are found in Special Collections.

Remember, never force a book flat with the hand or copier cover when photocopying or scanning.

This is better. Allow the book to sit naturally on the copying or scanning surface. If necessary, it is ok to hold down lightly. Be particularly careful of books with special value.

Pages can be loosened and eventually fall out as a result of pressing materials when photocopying or scanning.