Ok...I've read the condition guidelines but, I have a question...

Help Doc..."Decirculated library books may have various markings and/or stamps inside or outside or on the page edges of the book; this is OKAY.  These may not obscure text."

I received a book today and it may have been a previous library book...it has the Date Due thing in the back and on the last page it has the pocket thingy...NOW, my question is this I know that the help center says "These may not obscure text." does that include the information about the Author?  I was going to remove it (I like to browse the information) but, it is going to tear the page and where it doesn't tear it will leave sticky residue.

Is this an Official problem, will I be able to post it and recoup my credit?

I would post the book and when someone requests it send them a message explaining about the pocket.  Personally, I would not care.  It's the text of the story that I don't want obscured.  I would hate to be reading a murder mystery and find a senctence that says, "The name of the killer is PROPERTY OF THE COUNTY LIBRARY" 

But I really can't imagine too many folks being bothered by something the covers up the blurb about the author.  Does anyone really care where he/she lives? 

I agree that it is OK to post. People who don't want ex-library books will have that in their requestor conditions. The rest  find them acceptable and understand the variations in how they will look.

my question is how stringent are the guidelines...it actually says that none of the stamps or markings may obscure text...it isn't specific, does this mean all of the text of the book or not...maybe I'll have to contact TPTB for clarification. 

I don't know how the people that answer the questions sent in get placed in that position to do so but, sometimes they just so totally don't answer the question!!!

I sent in the following information (just like I posted here)...I received a book today and it may have been a previous library book...it has the Date Due thing in the back and on the last page it has the pocket thingy...NOW, my question is this I know that the help center says "These may not obscure text." does that include the information about the Author?  I was going to remove it (I like to browse the information) but, it is going to tear the page and where it doesn't tear it will leave sticky residue.

I got a response, "Ex-library books are permitted for swapping here, as long as they meet other book condition criteria.  Please see the Help doc "Book Condition Guidelines" in the Help Center.  A member who does not want an ex-library book should have that in his or her Requestor Conditions."

Hello...that so totally did not answer my question...that sounds exactly like "canned text"

This is my opintion on this and I am not  one of  TPTB.  The text the help docs are referring to is book text, not the other info.  Libraries are usually careful not to obscure text of the book but occastionally someone will make a mistake, thus the guideline.  As a previous poster said, you don't want to be reading along and have part of the text obscured. 

Your book is totally postable and shouldn't, IMO, be marked as received with a problem.  The member who sent it to you did so in good faith and shouldn't have their record blemished by the "received with a problem" note.  If you don't like the book as it is, just repost it and you will receive your credit back.  If you don't want ex-library books you need to put a requestor condion on your account staing exactly that.  You will, of course, be exempted by many people with that condition on your account.  Ohterwise you just have to take your chances like everyone else does when they do not have requestor conditions.   You shouldn't be "recouping" credits on postable books. 

Whoever answered your question is probably a volunteer and doing their best to answer you; I think they probably thought the help doc is clear.  If you want further clarification, just write back and tell them you want more clarification.

It was not canned text and we clarified further when you wrote in again, Christy.  The advice you have been given here is excellent.  Hurrah for our members, who sometimes do a better job than we do!   We think you all are the real PTB. :)

yes, the second response I got clarified the question...I realize the first response was not canned text but, it sure seemed like it because it didn't address the issue.  And yes, the advice here has been great but, if I posted the book and the requestor took issue with it I wouldn't have a leg to stand on regarding returning the credit UNLESS I had previously gotten a ruling on it from The PBS Team.

Sharon said, "If you don't want ex-library books you need to put a requestor condion on your account staing exactly that.....You shouldn't be "recouping" credits on postable books." 

I'm not sure why you jumped to the conclusion that I didn't want an ex-library copy of a book, that was not my point nor my question.  As far as recouping my credit, OH YES, I SHOULD...obviously you don't understand so, let me explain.  I pay a credit for a book, I read the book, I repost the book and send it to a new home and upon arrival to its new home I obtain a credit...thus I recoup my credit.  I should not spend a credit on a book that I cannot get a credit back on.....Hope that explains what recouping a credit is clearly.

Help Doc..."Decirculated library books may have various markings and/or stamps inside or outside or on the page edges of the book; this is OKAY.  These may not obscure text."

Sure the help document should be clear but, it does not define "text"...it simply states "These may not obscure text." and technically speaking the section on About the Author is text and some people like myself actually read that so technically speaking it could be marked RWAP but, now that I have TPTB ruling on this I marked it Received and will post it and send it as is and not be concerned about it being an issue.

For those that might want to see the exact wording here it is..."Well, text pages are meant to be =  pages containing the story.  This is kind of iffy though - someone might want to read About the Author and might object.  We still think it's okay though, because library markings sometimes obscure text on book jackets etc. The PaperBackSwap Team"

Thanks

Christy, I for one am really glad you asked this question.  For what it's worth, I'd have had the exact same question.  Text is Text - but now we know that according to PBS, Text is the book story, not the book 'extras'.