If you’re considering jobs that have a good future, you might not think of working in a bindery. However, getting a job as a bindery worker can still be a good choice for people who enjoy working with machines and who like to make information and entertainment available to people. If this idea appeals to you, preparing for a job as a bindery worker could be the right decision to make.

Binderies are places where books, magazines, and pamphlets are put together and made ready to send out to a bookstore or other company. Sometimes, binderies also assemble the pages for a family album or travel book. Many places like government offices, libraries, and community centres also publish pamphlets with information about programs, issues, or any other information that they think people will need. Publishing companies are good places to find binding jobs.

Before a book or pamphlet goes to the bindery, someone must write the content and decide how to place the words and pictures on the pages. Bindery workers might sometimes be involved in helping people decide what works best so that everything on the page is readable. Have you ever read a book that it too tightly bound for you to read the words in the middle? Bindery workers help to make sure that this problem does not occur by setting the margins of a page at the right place to ensure that readers can see everything on the page without too much trouble.

Checking the book or other item before binding it is important. The customer might also check for any flaws such as smudges or smears on the pages before bringing the project to the bindery. However, a final check for any flaws can help bindery workers to avoid problems later in the process. Sometimes, this might mean that customers need to redo parts of the project several times before bindery workers can begin.

Once the margins and other settings are established, bindery workers feed books or other materials into the binding machines according to what the client wants. Different publications might require stitching, glue, or staples. Filling the machine with the right materials is important for getting the job done. Once the books, magazines, or pamphlets have gone through the machine, bindery workers check each item to make sure that it is properly fastened together and that it will not fall apart.

Being detail-oriented is important for people working in binderies. The work can sometimes be physically difficult, and the machines can be loud. A certain amount of physical fitness is necessary for carrying books and papers from one place to another, but people can work in this field late into their careers. Wages start at about $15 per hour or $31,000 per year and can rise to $20 per hour or $41,000 per year.

Normally, a high school education is the main requirement for work in this field, but studying graphic arts or technology can also be helpful. People can find at least some work in this trade almost anywhere, but cities with large publishing companies are the best places for bindery jobs.

If you like physical work and helping make information available to people, this trade might be right for you.

Bibliography:

Career Planner. “Bindery Worker.” https://job-descriptions.careerplanner.com/Bindery-Workers.cfm.

Indeed.com. “Bindery Workers.” https://job-descriptions.careerplanner.com/Bindery-Workers.cfm.

Job Bank. “Bindery Worker—Printing in Canada.” https://www.on.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/summary-occupation/18521/ca.

Payscale Canada. “Bindery Worker: Hourly Rate.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Bindery_Worker/Hourly_Rate.