[MR] Book Construction Ideas

[Terri Morgan]

> 1.  Be large enough to hold scrolls during court and have some
> sort of holding device for them that allows me to hold the book
> and still move through the scrolls to get to the next one easily
> (if you've done court, you know what I mean).  I've even thought
> it might need a "lip" of sorts at the bottom so scrolls don't slip out. 

I think the lip is a good idea - or a (soft) strip of elastic (3/4" or one
inch wide) across the holding page from edge to edge, with a Peechee-style
pocket on the other page to slide the "no-show" scrolls into. (For those too
young to be familiar with PeeChees, this is one:
http://www.schoolsupplies4you.com/paper-notebooks-accessories/folders/folder
-peechee-pocket-only.html )

2.  Have a place to put a writing instrument.

If you have ties or ribbons extending from the top of the court book, one
could be made to stretch the length of the spine + some and hold your
pen/pencil that way.

> 3.  Have a place to keep a book light (in case court goes into 
> dusk and the light goes away - right Cian?).
4.  Have a way to attach my "just-in-case" book that has scripts
> for ceremonies in case I'm asked to do one on the fly, as well
> as the docket for court, and note-taking sheets.  Binders can
> do this, but they aren't large enough for scrolls.

That peechee-style flap could probably do that.

> 5. Be easy to hold processing in and out of court and still do all the
stuff above.
> It also needs to be constructed so that a blonde (yes, me) can put it
together
> - so easy-to -put together materials. 
> Your thoughts and ideas would be greatly appreciated!
> Lady Rose

I've noticed that the longest-lasting court books have been large ones made
of two pieces of thin wood (luan is good for this, and the Big Box stores,
like Lowe's or Home Depot, will cut it for you) covered in a sturdy fabric,
which also acts as the spine to hold the two sides together. A sturdy piece
of poster paper makes a good inner liner but may not be sturdy enough to
hold your "just in case" book, depending on how thick it is. If it is
somewhat thin, it could be stored inside the right-side peechee flap.

If you use a peechee-style flap, it is possible to slit it (before attaching
it to the book, and make sure to strengthen the area around the hole with a
good coat of water-proof glue or something that will keep it from
fraying/ripping over time) and if you use a thin notebook, such as those
designed for kitchen shopping lists, you can slide the back of the notebook
into the slit, keeping the pad stable on the page.

And that's the best I can come up with. Ten-to-one, the folks on the
Herald's List will have really amazing ideas for you.

Good luck,
Hrothny