Perforating machines, which punch holes in paper, make ownership marks on books, serve to cancel documents, create inserts for binder notebooks, or make interesting sign designs. Tiffney Sanford, Administrative Clerk at the Los Angeles Public Library and library history blogger, explains that “This is a Cummins Perforating Machine from the old Pomona College (Carnegie) Library. It is now displayed (and in working condition) on the front desk at the nearby Claremont Colleges Library Special Collections. The Carnegie building served as a library from 1908 until 1953 and now houses academic offices and classrooms. [425 N. College Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711]” Please see this page on the use of perforating machines in libraries by Larry Nix and the virtual exhibit by the Cummins company for more on these important technologies in the story of libraries.
