For best results, use a medium weight string.

1. Begin by pulling 3-4 feet of string off of your ball or spool. Double over about 3-4 inches of string.
 
 

2. Form an overhand knot and pull it tight, leaving a moderate sized loop.
 

3. Reach through the loop with your left thumb and index finger and grasp the string leading back to the ball or spool. Hold the end of the loop farthest from the overhand knot with your right thumb and index finger. Pull the string up through the loop. Pull the string to the left and the loop to the right. This will pull the overhand knot through the loop. Continue pulling the string from the ball or spool through the loop until you have created a noose.
 

 
4. Slip the noose around the narrow part of the book or stack of issues, keeping the loop near the center of the bundle.
 
 
 
 

5. Pull the string snugly around the middle of the stack, then wrap the string around the stack vertically, going over the top and coming up from the bottom.

DO NOT pull the string so tight that it tears the pages or causes the stack to curl.

Cut the string about 2-3" above the top edge of the book.

A NOTE OF CAUTION:
If the material is fragile or brittle, wrap the string loosely around the stack so as not to inflict any damage to the material. Keep the string taut enough to prevent the item from falling out of the string.

EXTREMELY fragile or brittle material should NOT be tied but should be contained in folders or envelopes instead.
 
 
 
 
 

6. Begin tying the actual library knot by laying the string across the loop as shown, forming a cross-like pattern.

7. Slip the free end of the string UNDERNEATH the vertical portion of the cross.

8. Lay the free end of the string ON TOP OF the horizontal portion of the cross opposite the loop.

9. Bring the free end of the string UNDERNEATH the lower vertical portion of the cross and pull the string snug, NOT TIGHT.

10. Continue bringing the free end of the string around until it is lying across the noose and ON TOP OF the upper portion of the cross.

11. Make a fold in the free end of the string as shown, and pull the fold under the upper portion of the cross.

12. Pull the fold up through the space on the other side of the cross, then pull down to tighten the knot. Leave a segment of string free as shown in the right-hand drawing. To untie the knot, simply pull on the free end of the string. 

I must give credit to James C. Dast, former head of the Conservation Lab in Memorial Library, who drew the pictures and wrote the instructions that were the foundation for this web page. I thank him for allowing me to use and modify his drawings and instructions.