Not all libraries clearly mark books  as withdrawn.  Some slap big black W's all over the book.  If it will ease your mind, you could call that library and ask about it.

Like Mary mentioned, many libraries no longer mark their discards.   Some mark with the "W", or a 'discarded' stamp.  Others have a black permanent marker line through the barcode, but a growing number don't mark them at all.

But if you are uncomfortable, you may certainly call the library in question.

The Dallas library holds a sale every 3rd Sat. of the month.  You can buy their old books for $6.00 a box.  I'm planning to go as soon as i get my current supply in decent order.  I wouldn't worry about a library book, especially if it's an older book.  Every library system has a different method, I suppose.

Judye

I've received library books from PBS. Some were were stamped Withdrawn and some had no markings indicating they were withdrawn. Since libraries sell off books all the time, I wouldn't worry about it or waste my time calling the library. Unless it makes you feel better. It's highly unlikely that people are stealing library books to trade on PBS.

"It's highly unlikely that people are stealing library books to trade on PBS." 

I agree.  With the cost of postage they would be better off buying credits in the bazaar than stealing library books.

I have purchased books at our library sale that were still relatively new, only a couple of years old and in like new condition. Go figure.

yep, this can be a problem. Luckily our library, where as an FOL volunteer I work in the used book sale room, thoroughly marks culled books. They have a stamp pad they use to mark the back cover saying book has been removed, a large X is made through the original stamp which says "property of Bloomimgdale Public Library, Hillsborough Cpounty". Then they also put a dot with a black marker on top of book's page edges(guess that's the mark they make when they take it out of the library inventory on the computer).

I have called libraries on a couple occasions to make sure book was properly removed from inventory. And I personally delivered 3 books that got returned to our library by mistake when they were property of an elementary school nearby--- the library staff don't bother, they just dumped the books into our book sale!

My library does not mark any type of withdrawn stamp. On the binding they will put either a red x or black x over the sticker with Dewey Decimal info...red info indicates the book is a freebie put in the hall for people to take, black indicates they sold it on the cart inside. The black ones are usually only about 6 months old. We have high turnover for books here and they just don't have time to deal any other way. :)

Most of the libraries in this area do NOT mark them withdrawn.  They just take extras off the shelves or donated books and put them up for sale - usually a donation to get some funds.  This is a rural area & taken on trust that you don't go to a shelf and "buy" a book but take them from proper sale area.

Jeanne, how coudln't you have noted where that book came from?

OsKeeWowWow