Does a book with a library binding count as an ex-library edition, even if it never belonged in a library? I have a book here with the library plastic binding over the dust jacket, but it has NO library ownership markings on it at all. It looks like maybe it was prepared for a library but never actually got there for one reason or another. And I actually bought it from a bookstore that only sells new books, which makes it even stranger. I know either way it is postable here, but on the off-chance it ends up posting to someone who doesn't want ex-library books, I want to figure out if it qualifies as one or not.

I really have no idea about that one. I wonder how it got to the bookstore that only sells new books. Would they take overflow books from a library if the book had never reached circulation? That's an intersting one!

Either way, I would decline if they had no ex-library in their conditions just to be on the safe side.

A plastic cover over the dust jacket is not library binding and can be bought by anyone who want to protect their books. Library binding is usually a more heavy duty paperback cover or a HC with the dust jacket image imbedded into the actual cover. 

If there are no library markings I would not consider it a violation on ex-library RC.

From what you describe it seems it is not an ex library book.  But it doesn't matter anyway because ex library books are allowed to be posted,as long as they otherwise meeting posting guidelines of course.  Members can have a receiving condition of 'no ex library books" if they wish, but unless someone has that RC in place, you can post it and trade it just like any other book.

Personally I like ex library books because their bindings are stronger than "store bought" books.

I wonder if there are some publishers that do this for some authors' books. I requested the first two Silver Rush mysteries by Ann Parker from two different members and both came with plastic over the dust jackets. Haven't gotten any other books that way.

I went to a book signing in a bookstore once and they had those plastic slip covers to protect the books.

Hmm. That's a toughy because part of the reason someone may not want an ex library book might be  that plastic covering.  Does the ISBN bring up a just hardcover or does it bring up library binding? There are some in the system that say library binding. 

I think there's actually a difference between "ex-library" and "library binding".  Some books in the library are just regular editions with the addition of the plastic sleeve, stickers, and the sleeves on the inside for the old cards they used to use to keep track of who had the book.  Those would be "ex-library" editions (provided they're withdrawn, of course).  "Library binding" is (I believe) in reference to when a book's contents have been rebound as turtlebacks or permaboud editions, with the title on the spine in white.

The used book store which I frequent puts plastic jackets on all of their hardcovers, either to protect the existing dust jacket, or to replace a missing jacket.  They're as stubbornly attached as the library's plastic sleeves (which are usually heavily taped to the inside of the cover), and I can't imagine anyone would view them as ex-library editions, but that might have little to do with the book in question here.  I agree with the "better safe than sorry" approach in this instance.  At the same time, I'm not too sure about how common RC's refusing library editions are; personally, I wouldn't necessarily expect the first request to come with such conditions attached.

What Melanie said.  The dust jacket sleeve is no indication of 'library' status, several of our local UBS use them.   Protection of this type should be completely removable (if applied correctly) and does not otherwise change the postability status of the book.

Bren, if your book does not contain library stamps, pocket, barcodes, spine/dewey label, or other identifiying marks, you probably do not have a library edition and can post FIFO even if the requestor has an RC for library books...yours is not.

I've actually put those plastic covers (they're called mylar covers) over the dustjackets.  They are completely removeable if they were done correctly.

If there are no library markings on the book, then I wouldn't consider it ex-library.  Nearly all libraries stamp their books or at least put a barcode in them.