Periodical binding is usually conducted under contract via vendors for most libraries. In many cases, decisions are made on the basis of short-term practicability, volume dimensions, and an impression of patterns of use. However, binding is done after the current use on the unbound issues has been expended, thus some of the massive and inflexible structures designed by binders for heavy use are commissioned mistakenly on the basis of patterns of use before the unbound issues can be protected by such heavy-duty bindings. Inflexible leaf attachment methods, such as oversewing, stab-stitching, and drill-and-sew, actually hasten the destruction of the bindings as they render photocopying, microfilming, and digital scanning almost impossible without the cutting of sewing to allow the leaves to open well enough to see the text at the inner margins.

Most periodicals produced today are not in signature form and cannot be sewn through the section folds. The only practical way to avoid inflexible, through-the-surface sewing methods is through the use of double-fan adhesive binding, in which single leaves are fanned mechanically in both directions, and an adhesive line of 0.5 millimeters is applied between each leaf. Owing to the cost of the machinery required, commercial binders in developing countries often fan leaves by hand.

The appropriate binding for adhesive structures is a flat-backed, flush construction, with binders' boards glued directly onto the outside of the endpapers about 1 centimeter from the back edge. The backbone is lined with kraft or wrapping paper, and a piece of pre-lettered book cloth is glued directly on top of the backbone extending approximately 6 centimeters onto the boards. The bound volume is lightly trimmed to level the edges.

This form of binding is inexpensive and dimensionally stable (it cannot sag on the shelf). Periodicals may be bound in the library with minimal equipment and easily opened.