I have a question about how best to deal with a "borderline" book that I received.  The book technically complies with all of the PBS guidelines and I have no quibble with the sender.  However, the book is very used (yes, I know this is a used book site and I have received a lot of books that are clearly old and/or used and I'm more than fine with that) so I can't decide how to deal with reposting it.  Part of my issue is that I tend to take very good care of my own books so that the books that I send out that originated from my shelf are all in very good shape, even the ones that I have read multiple times.  Should I just go ahead and post this book because it does comply with the rules?  Should I post and PM a requestor to note that it is more worn than most books I have seen here?  Should I suck up the credit and offer it for free?  Like I said, the book complies with the PBS guidelines, it's just very limp and worn and used, with several tears in the cover, so it is in much worse shape than other books I have posted and sent.  Thanks for any advice, and I do love this site!

I've recieved one or two of those. I just accept that sometimes, I am going to be the end of the line for a book. Luckily, that is the exception, rather than the rule.

If the book currently complies with the guidelines (and I would certainly wonder whether "several tears on the cover" is within the guidelines, but I'm not looking at the book and you are, so you know better than I) then you can post it. You do not need to PM a requestor before sending it.

Do keep in mind that every book has a "last reader", and you should not expect that you will be able to repost every book you get here. While most books will be repostable, occasionally you'll get one where you look at it and just know it's time to retire it. It sounds like that just may be the case with this one.

I got one yesterday that I think has just reached the end of the line.  Very old, with a rumpled and worn cover, and yellowed pages.  Everything else was intact, and the binding is soft but still solid, but it just looks like crap:P  Clearly it's been read to death, and I think it's high time it was put out to pasture.

That's exactly right, and a good point from all of you.  When I opened the package, my first reaction was "what a sad book" - I guess that's the sign that I'm the end of the line for it.   I guess the fact is that paperbacks don't last forever and it's a judgment call as to whether it can survive one more read.  I'll see how it looks when I finish it myself.  Thanks all.

I got a couple that were WLd, but I considered them on their last legs, so after I'd read them I posted them in the Book Bazaar (free with order) and they were snapped up.  Don't know if they're still in the system, but I, in good faith, couldn't ask for a credit for them, although they did meet guidelines (barely).  Pat