Semi-related: Law students often [used to in the early 90s / may still] get the spines sliced off heavy casebooks and the innards punched for 3-ring binders. Carry around only the pages you’ll need.

It was extravagant and fussy, but super handy for a bike commute. Scanning the loose pages would have been OK if that tech had been more friendly. 1000 pages, thin, flimsy paper and tiny print might still be a challenge. No tablets in those days.