I know tape will not make anything postable, if it is not already postable.   But I have a book I would like to swap that has about a 3/4 inch tear on the cover.  It's close to an inch, but not *quite.  Anyway, I want to put some scotch tape on it so it does not get any bigger....and therefore making it unpostable.

What is your opinion on this?

Thanks!

Scotch tape wont last very long and may appear to be covering up an issue.  Long as you wrap the book tightly when mailing it the tear should be ok.

I'd be suspcious if someone sent me a book with tape on it covering a tear, I'd wonder how big the tear used to be.  
 

I also hate scotch tape on books, it just falls off or causes more troubles, book packing tape (the clear stuff) is better to use, stronger etc.

You could also get some glue,  place wax paper underneath the tear to protect the pages and put a tiny about on the tear and, place another piece of wax paper on top and weight the book down with something flat.  Wax paper should not stick to the book and it's the method I use at the library to mend books.

I almost always tap up tears on a book so they can't get worse. If I can, I put the tap just on the inside so it doesn't marr the cover. I usually use the packing tape instead of just scotch, but a few times when it was small I used plain scotch tape and it worked fine.

There is nothing in the Help Center that says a book cannot have tape on it, so just like tape can't make an unpostable postable, it also can't make a postable unpostable.

I've repaired small tears like that with packing tape and swapped them successfully. I never thought it would make them unpostable and no one has ever mentioned it to me.

xengab said: You could also get some glue,  place wax paper underneath the tear to protect the pages and put a tiny about on the tear and, place another piece of wax paper on top and weight the book down with something flat.  Wax paper should not stick to the book and it's the method I use at the library to mend books.

I always love learning some new brilliant technique here!  Thanks!

I recommend against scotch tape.  It yellows.  If it's the removeable kind, it doesn't last.  If it's not the removeable kind, the requestor won't be able to remove it (when it yellows) without damaging the book.   But it won't make the book unpostable.

Tape does not age the same as paper.  If it is some acid free art tape or special library tape, then I'm fine.  If you use Scotch tape, you are setting an expiration date on the book.

Glad to know about the glue method.  Librarians have such cool secrets.

I would not use scotch tape, either.

I have used packing tape, though. I admit, I haven't seen how well it holds up over 20 years or so .. but it holds up just fine for 5 or 6 years, so far. That's probaby how old my oldest repairs are.

I'm going to try the glue method next time! Thanks!

I did not realize a very small clean tear would be an issue! These are used books we are swapping, right? I understand a really ragged book with rips and cover falling off would be unpostable, but sometimes older books develop a small hairline tear where the cover "turns the corner" to become the spine. Usually at the bottom edge, where it was subjected to more stress by being gripped. Seems par for the course! I have never actually sent a book like this (yet) but I have received some, and never thought anything of it. If it is small I ignore it, if it is spreading I put clear packing tape on it.

I also like the glue repair technique! I used to be a library assistant and spent many hours gluing, sewing and otherwise repairing books: brings back pleasant memories!

What is the verdict about a book that is in otherwise good shape but the cover has a crease (not a rip?)

What is the verdict about a book that is in otherwise good shape but the cover has a crease (not a rip?)

I just go by what's in the offcial guidelines for postablility. Here.

If it's not listed as a problem for the site, then I don't worry about it. If It's important to me, then it's up to me to put in an RC so the sender knows I want something more than the site requires.

I've never had a problem with creases, so have never had an RC for them. But I do think it's important to stop small cover tears under an inch from becoming more while in transit. A small tear that's okay by the guildelines when wrapped can get a lot bigger if it's not packed snugly. Then the sender gets a book with a tear over 1 inch and the book then becomes a RWAP.

Dust Jackets are different, since books don't have to have dust jackets to be postable. I'd still want to stop a tear from getting bigger if I could, though.

A tear under an inch is not an issue.

Unless someone has a Requestor Condition about creases, they should not be a problem.

Always if you are in doubt about a books postability, double check what is and is not allowed in the Help Center!  It's your absolute guideline on what to post and what not to post!

I've also wondered about this ,I have a WL book I got from someone here and it was mumifyed ( Spelled wrong ,I know..lol) I had a hard time getting into the package ,so I used Scissors , and cut the book by accident ,about an inch.  Otherwise the book looks brand new.

Should I post in in the unpostables or tape it.?

The cover can be ripped/cut about an inch and it is still postable. With or without tape.

Pages can't be ripped or cut.

However, books can be missing "non-text" pages and still be postable. Sometimes, if the page that is ripped or torn is a non-text page, I simply remove it from the book and the book then becomes postable.