A bookbinding machine wherein a book to be bound is positioned above a container containing a hot-melt type of adhesive, with the back of the book facing down toward the adhesive, and an adhesive applicator plate normally dipped in the adhesive and heated to an elevated temperature is raised from within the adhesive so as to apply the adhesive carried on the upper surface of the plate to the whole area of the back of the book at one and the same time. A table is provided on which a cover sheet is placed ready to be attached to the back of the book to which adhesive has been applied.