As a commercial business printer, having all of the gadgets and keeping up with the latest printing technology, Tim is correct. Whatever you use to do a decent scan WILL ruin the bindings.
So you have to ask yourself what is the most important asset to humankind... your bound book that is only to be looked at by YOU, or, cut the bindings, scan in very high resolution, and share it with the world. Someday when you die, your kids will find your books and include them in your family auction, if they don't end up in the trash right away. If you are lucky, they will go to someone who understands the value, but for the most part, they could very well end up in a box until they are totally destroyed because YOU have demonstrated your concern for these volumes. Who else would?
That's why you guys have really good overdrive docs on my website. I just cut the bindings and scanned it all. Sure it hurts, but not when you consider the help it provides others.
HO HO HO. Merry Christmas! LOL
Side Note.. Any printshop has a cutter that will take a very small amount off the binding end of the book to cleanly take it apart. Yes, its forever, no it wont ruin the content.
