To Kathy Sales:
  We receive almost all IEEE publications in the traditional blue bindings.  I
checked with our catalogers who handle this material regularly and they report
that they have never noticed any problems with the binding coming loose or
breaking.  I haven't gone up to the stacks to see how it has fared over the
years, but I suppose that is another issue.  Sorry I can't offer you any
support on this issue!

Walter_High@ncsu.edu