A professional who sets up and operates machine to sew gathered and collated signatures (pages) into book form for binding. Responsibilities include:

• Pulls thread through lubrication box, thread guides, and needle to thread machine, and soaks bobbins of thread in water to lubricate thread.
• Places book under needle, sets presser foot to thickness of book, and turns setscrews to adjust length of stitch.
• Pushes book under presser foot with back against guide, depresses pedal to activate needle, and sews through length of book.
• Feeds and sews books in succession until delivery trough is full.
• Stops machine, cuts threads connecting books, and stacks separated books.
• May stitch endpapers to top and bottom of signatures.
• May operate machine equipped with multiple needles.
• May be known by type of book stitched and be designated blankbook-stitching-machine operator ii.
• May specialize in stitching trimmed or shaved spine of books for rebinding.