Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Discussion Forums - Questions about PaperBackSwap Questions about PaperBackSwap

Topic: library books

Club rule - Please, if you cannot be courteous and respectful, do not post in this forum.
  Unlock Forum posting with Annual Membership.
BookFamily avatar
Subject: library books
Date Posted: 10/28/2007 12:45 PM ET
Member Since: 7/31/2007
Posts: 21
Back To Top

What is the policy on posting used library books? 

gratefulgrama avatar
Date Posted: 10/28/2007 12:55 PM ET
Member Since: 9/22/2007
Posts: 190
Back To Top

from the Help Center:

Ex-library books:  Yes
  • Ex-library books often have stamps inside or on the binding: this is fine.   If you receive an ex-library book that is not clearly marked "withdrawn" (not all libraries do this), you should contact the library to ask them if this book is still part of their collection.

annalovesbooks avatar
Date Posted: 10/28/2007 1:08 PM ET
Member Since: 3/25/2007
Posts: 369
Back To Top

you should contact the library to ask them if this book is still part of their collection.

While I suppose this is polite, it does make me laugh every time I read it.  Has anyone actually made this call?  Just curious!

DuskyRose avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 10/28/2007 6:14 PM ET
Member Since: 8/18/2005
Posts: 7,977
Back To Top


Last Edited on: 10/20/09 10:53 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
Bravescatz avatar
Date Posted: 10/28/2007 7:41 PM ET
Member Since: 1/12/2007
Posts: 1,305
Back To Top

I have gotten several books from library sales not marked as discards and many have been marked. I don't worry about it since I see it both ways. I've bought books in like new condition and have no idea why they are discarded.

Generic Profile avatar
Standard Member medal
Date Posted: 10/28/2007 7:43 PM ET
Member Since: 10/6/2005
Posts: 11,084
Back To Top

Tonya a lot of libraries buy multiple copies of a book that is expected to be extremely popular, then sell off all but one of the copies once the book is no longer being borrowed frequently.

royaltech avatar
Member of the Month medalBook Cover Image Approver medalBook Data Coordinator medalFriend of PBS-Gold medal
Date Posted: 10/28/2007 10:30 PM ET
Member Since: 11/14/2005
Posts: 6,421
Back To Top

Actually, I recall someone being accused of sending one that wasn't withdrawn, because it didn't have a stamp. The receiver did not call the library, simply sent a PM and accused the sender of stealing a library book and wrote in to R&R also! hahahaha

Spuddie avatar
Friend of PBS-Gold medalPBS Blog Contributor medal
Date Posted: 10/29/2007 7:15 AM ET
Member Since: 8/10/2005
Posts: 4,607
Back To Top

Tanya wrote: I've bought books in like new condition and have no idea why they are discarded.

Sadly, it's because the book is rarely checked out. When the library buys multiple copies of a book, they sometimes overestimate the interest level in the book and some copies simply remain on the shelf collecting dust until they decide to unload it in the FOL sale. I can often find books with NO WAITING QUEUE at my library that are highly wishlisted here at PBS.

Hopefully I'll find a few of those at the FOL sale this weekend. :) I was one of those who was accused of sending a stolen library book to someone...sometimes our library marks discards with a marker line through the barcode, and sometimes not...probably depends on who is doing the discards. The one I sent happened to be one of those that looked brand new and didn't have a discard stamp anywhere on the book. I did invite the receiver to contact the library if he felt moved to do so. ::grin::

Cheryl

krisbooks avatar
Standard Member medal
Date Posted: 10/29/2007 8:31 AM ET
Member Since: 3/13/2006
Posts: 2,024
Back To Top

I suspect R&R put in that sentence about contacting the library to discourage people from PMing the sender with accusations about stealing library books.  In other words, if you think you got a stolen book, the first thing you should do is contact the library, not the sender.  Personally, I've always assumed my transactions were legit and it's never occurred to me to contact the library or anyone else!

dawgsncats avatar
Date Posted: 10/29/2007 5:31 PM ET
Member Since: 11/28/2006
Posts: 877
Back To Top

When I worked in the public library (it was in the 1970's, before they invented electricity, heh heh) we used to get dozens and dozens of copies of bestsellers.  The idea was to keep the waiting list from getting too long when a book is hot,hot,hot.  Yes, that means they may buy a book and only have it read a handful of times before it is withdrawn & discarded.

Cattriona avatar
Member of the Month medalFriend of PBS-Gold medal
Date Posted: 10/29/2007 6:58 PM ET
Member Since: 7/7/2007
Posts: 4,815
Back To Top

With regard to stolen library books: yes, it happens.  I'm a librarian and several months ago we purchased (unknowingly) an out of print book (used) from a vendor on Amazon, and it had library stamps in it and no "withdrawn" stamps.  Turns out, it was "missing" from the original library's collection.

So, on behalf of fellow libraries, please make that call or check their online catalog (nearly all libraries have them now) to see if the title is listed as "missing" or "lost".  The mere lack of a stamp, however, does not mean it is automatically stolen goods.

For those interested or with an axe to grind on why libraries "throw away" books, there's another discussion here.

Cheers,

Catt

mobilemark avatar
Date Posted: 10/29/2007 9:29 PM ET
Member Since: 6/25/2006
Posts: 382
Back To Top

re library books one to see if teh book has been withdrawn  try to find the library barcode on the book if its been removed

or xxxed out then you are safe