Bookbinders span the gamut from quick and dirty (Kinkos) to insanely elaborate and expensive (take a look at the binding used on the George Washington Book in the upcoming Heritage Platinum night sale). I think you need to start with what you want and go from there.

I used Alan Grace in Jacksonville (now in Atlanta) for years, but after a while your library tends to take on a certain Alan Grace look. So I am experimenting with a new bookbinder in Rhode Island for both Book Plates (his wife is a graphic designer) and bindings. So far so good on both fronts, but it is still early days. I will report in again when I get the Plates and the first shipment back.

Charlie Davis uses Harcourt Bindery in Boston. I have used them as well and found their work to be very good, but on the slightly pricey side. One final thought, people have mixed feelings about using bookbinders outside of driving distance. If you can drive there, you can save shipping and time and also explain exactly what you want. But I find geography limiting in terms of skills and diversity of binding look.

I've used a third generation Denver bookbinder over the years with very good luck. Their work has been great and the prices seem reasonable. The name is Denver Bookbinding Company. They are very knowledgeable and still have some of the old machines and craftsman.

I've used them for restoration, new leather bindings and also to bind a set of Detroit City Directories from the 1860s. I've never been disappointed with their work. Here is the link: www.denverbook.com .