By Dan White – Special to the Sydenham Current
If I were to use one word to describe Suzanne Wiersma’s approach to bookbinding, it would be passion. This woman truly understands books – from cover to cover! She holds the position of Director of Operations at Wallaceburg Bookbinding & Mfg Co. Ltd. When I arrived for an interview, I was treated to a tour of this local business, which has been operating since 1965. Suzanne has been a part of WBM for 40 of its 58 years of existence.
The first part of the tour involved witnessing the latest addition to the company – binding newspapers into a book that preserves a single copy of each edition within a beautiful hardcover. Suzanne provided a brief history of the binding operations at WBM and an engaging demonstration of the entire process.
Before the internet’s explosion around the turn of the century, there were approximately 23,000 newspapers in print across North America. Despite predictions that all printed papers would vanish by 2015 once the internet gained full momentum, we find ourselves in 2023 with around 6,000 newspapers still in circulation. While their prominence is fading, many people still prefer the tactile sensations associated with physical newspapers. It’s worth noting that the paper used is a byproduct of lumber waste and is biodegradable. The concern about paper usage only becomes significant when we deplete wood resources, a scenario that seems distant.
A year ago, WBM acquired Hoag and Sons Book Bindery, located in Eaton Rapids, Michigan. This acquisition has proven to be a pivotal moment for the Wallaceburg company. With two transport trucks laden with equipment and eight vans brimming with inventory, they relocated to 95 Arnold St, establishing a new home in Wallaceburg’s industrial area.
The challenges posed by the Covid pandemic nearly spelled the end for the company. Among other setbacks, the demand for rebinding textbooks dropped from 20,000 books during the summer of 2019 to zero books in 2020. While there has been a modest recovery over the past couple of years, it’s still a fraction of the previous demand, insufficient to rehire summer students.
This stark reality compelled Suzanne and the WBM team to reevaluate their path forward and diversify the offerings of this seemingly modest local business. Yet, this modest appearance is misleading. Once you step inside, you’re met with machinery, rollers, 1,500 cubbies for documents, and organized piles of books, magazines, and papers throughout the shop. Additionally, WBM’s international clientele and services showcase its local gem status with global appeal.
The unassuming exterior of the building might easily be overlooked while driving by – I even missed it on my way to the interview. Inside, there are ten full-time employees, most of whom have been part of the team for decades. WBM stands as one of only two businesses of its kind in Canada. In addition to the previously mentioned services, they specialize in binding postgraduate thesis documents, magazine collections, professional journals, periodicals – essentially anything that can be transformed into a bound book. They also undertake the restoration and repair of cherished old books, restoring them to a better-than-new state.
The process is labor-intensive and simply cannot be automated. Although there have been upgrades and modernization efforts, creative problem-solving and a skill set beyond that of a machine are essential. The experienced and skilled staff handle each cover as if it were a beloved family heirloom.
When I inquired about publishing local writers, such as recently featured authors Mark Aarssen and Marcy Kennedy-Saylor, Suzanne’s honesty and directness were evident, mirroring everything I had observed about the organization. If you’re seeking to publish a high-quality family heirloom book with fewer than 100 copies, WBM is the ideal destination. However, they do not produce paperbacks and do not offer editing services. For mass-produced paperbacks, a larger printer in Toronto is the better choice.
Whether you possess a book in need of repair, a children’s story destined to be passed down through generations, or if you’re like Mark and desire a cherished hardcover version of your paperback book, WBM is the perfect place for you.
