The South Carolina State Library (State Library) has purchased a new KASEMAKE CXD archival box making machine. This innovative machine combines high-quality software with digital cutting and box-making capabilities to produce cases for library items in the State Library’s collection. The KASEMAKE CXD will allow the State Library to preserve library materials by producing customized archival boxes in-house.
The State Library is the depository for South Carolina state agency documents. It maintains extensive historical and cultural print and digital collections from every South Carolina state agency. The KASEMAKE CXD machine will allow the State Library to extend the preservation of its print collection, which includes a wide range of sizes and various types of books, maps, journals, media such as cassette tapes and vinyl records, rare books, and documents created by state agencies.
The KASEMAKE CXD machine utilizes a computer-aided design (CAD) and database system, where users input object dimensions and select custom box sizes. The software generates precise cut-and-crease patterns, optimizing material use and efficiency. The digital book measure captures the accurate dimensions of books or items, and the physical box-making table cuts and creases the cardboard material. The machine can produce custom archival boxes tailored to the exact dimensions of each library item.
"The addition of the Kasemake machine will allow the State Library to preserve the history of state government, rare items, and special collections related to South Carolina culture and history for years to come at a fraction of the cost of outsourcing," said State Library Director Leesa Aiken. "Our collection of state documents spans from the late 1700s to 2025. This machine was purchased after five years of planning, with an eye toward the future and the best care for our unique collection. I am thrilled that we will be able to fulfill our mission more fully as the state’s document depository through the addition of the Kasemake machine."
This project is made possible by a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the South Carolina State Library.
