Books Components

The number and type of sections that follow the final chapter vary by the type of book. Technical publications generally have more of these end of the book components including an index and an appendix.

Appendix

Material that doesn't fit within the body of the book is often included in an appendix. In a software manual, a table of shortcuts might appear in an appendix. A craft book might have an appendix listing names, addresses, and other contact information for craft supplies and other resources mentioned in the book. A technical manual that must include lengthy warranty information might put it in an appendix instead of in the title page.

Bibliography

Often found in scholarly publications, the bibliography is a list of resources related to the subject of the book. The bibliography may list other books, magazines or specific articles, and Web sites.

Endnotes

When footnotes (see Text Block elements) are consolidated at the end of a chapter or at the end of the book, they are called endnotes.

Glossary

The glossary lists acronyms, words, and phrases relevant to the subject of the book along with a brief definition. The format may vary but two typical glossary formats are:

• 1 column: The glossary term in bold followed by the definition.
• 2 column: The glossary term in one column with the definition across from it in the second column.

Index

Arranged alphabetically and by subject with page numbers, the index breaks the book down into all the many sub-topics and ideas covered in the body of the book. Desktop publishing software can often handle the creation of simple index pages. More complex indexing is often accomplished with third-party software and the services of a professional indexer.

Colophon

Sometimes found in the front matter and most often found in older books, the colophon is a list or description of typefaces, type of paper, printing method, and possibly software used to produce the book.

Reader-response Form

Could be an actual page bound into the book or it may be a separate page or postcard slipped into the book that asks the reader to respond with comments or questions about the book.

Teasers / Excerpts

Fiction books especially may have pages that look like ads describing other books by the same author or the same publisher, sometimes with ordering information. Excerpts or the first chapter from the author's next book or the next book in a series may appear at the end of the book.

A basic knowledge of the parts of a book and how a book is put together can help the designer envision the finished product. The boards, spine, and cover material make up the case which is created separate from the text block and attached to it. A book jacket or slipcase is also created separate from the case and text block. The designer may be directly involved in the design of some parts, such as the book jacket, slipcase, paperback covers, and cover art.

Board

The material, such as millboard, that provides stiffness or rigidity for hardcover books. The boards are usually covered with cloth or leather.

Cover

The outside of a book which wraps around (with the spine) the text block and protects the pages is the cover. Hardcover books are those bound in cloth or leather over boards. Softcover or paperback books have covers without boards usually made of heavy paper or other flexible material.

Front Cover

The book title, author, illustration, and other information may appear on the front cover.

Back Cover

Hard cover books generally have blank back covers or perhaps a logo from the publishing company. Paperbacks and book jackets often carry book descriptions, promotional blurbs, excerpts, quotes by reviewers, barcode, ISBN, photo of author, etc.

Hinge or Joint

The indented line along the front and back covers of a book which bends as the cover is opened and closed.

Spine

The spine is the outer portion of a book that typically shows when a book is placed on a bookshelf. It's the part of the binding that conceals the bound edges of the text block and connects the front and back covers. The book title, author, library call number, publishing company and logo may be imprinted, embossed, or attached to the spine.

Crash or Mull or Super

The crash is the coarse, loosely woven cloth often used to line the spines of the book. Layers of crash and glue form the spine lining used to stiffen and reinforce the binding edge of the text block. Not all types of binding use a cloth spine lining.

Endsheet or Endpaper or Endleaf

Thicker than the other pages of the book, half of the endsheet is affixed to the inside front and back cover with the other half forming the first or last page in the book. In some books the endsheets may be a decorative print or contrasting color from the rest of the book pages. In some books the endsheet maybe printed with artwork, diagrams, maps, or other illustrations connected to the subject of the book.

Flyleaf

The half of the front or back endsheet not glued to the cover is the flyleaf or fly leaf.

Paste Down

The half of the front or back endsheet glued to the front and back covers is the paste down.

Fore-edge

The unbound edge of the book's pages, opposite the spine. Older books and special editions may have gilded (gold) or painted fore-edges. When present, tabs or a thumb index are affixed to the fore-edge.

Binding Edge

The binding edge is the edge of the leaves and signatures that are attached to each other. They may glued together with a strip of cloth or paper, or in paperback binding the edges may be glued directly to the spine and cover.

Head and Headcap

The top edge of the boards, spine, and text block when a book is upright on a shelf is the head. The headcap is the upper portion of the spine.

Tail and Tailcap

The bottom edge of the boards, spine, and text block that the book rests on when it is sitting upright on a shelf is the tail. The tailcap is the lower portion of the spine.

Book Jacket (Dust Jacket)

Hard cover and some soft cover books have a separate paper wrapper that covers the book and protects the cover. The book jacket may mimic the cover or include additional information including title, author, illustrations, promotional blurbs. A synopsis of the book contents and author's biography typically appear on the book jacket flaps - the end papers that wrap around to the inside covers.

Slipcase

A cardboard box designed to hold, protect, and display one or more volumes (such as a book series) is a slipcase. The slipcase is open at the front so that only the book spines show.