Abstract: A side wire stitching binder includes at least one side wire stitcher for stitching a book through a side of the book, a cover station for applying a cover over a spine of the book, and a clamping device including a clamp for transferring the book from the at least one side wire stitcher to the cover station. Also disclosed is a method for binding a book comprising the steps of clamping an unstitched book with a first clamp, side stitching the book while clamped in the first clamp, and transporting the book to a cover station using the first clamp.