Abstract: A notebook including a front cover, a rear cover pivotally joined to the front cover by a binding mechanism, and a retaining mechanism for maintaining the front and rear covers in a closed position wherein the front and rear covers are oriented generally parallel to each other. The retaining mechanism includes an elastic component coupled to at least one of the front or rear covers and having a pair of spaced apart loop portions, each of the loop portions being shaped to fit around a corner of each of the front and rear covers to maintain the covers in the closed position.

Abstract: A pocket system for attachment to a binding mechanism including a body including an inner cavity sized to closely receive a plurality of index cards therein, the index cards having a size of about 3 inches by about 5 inches. The pocket system further includes an attachment structure coupled to the body and including a pair of spaced openings. Each opening is sized and spaced to receive a ring of a binding mechanism therethrough to couple to the body to the binding mechanism.