A book on my WL just came up (yeah!) and I simultaneously got a very nice PM from the sender noting that the book was a library discard.  I'm fine with that and told her so, but it made me wonder - do people have problems trading library discards on this site (absent specific RCs about not wanting library books)?  I mean, I thought they were fine to trade here but this message makes me wonder whether this person has had problems (and I plan to repost this book when I'm finished with it).  Just curious if this is a recurring problem.

I have never had a problem with these and i trade lots of them. Some people do like to PM in advance about things that may be "preceived problems" but most people don't.

A few members have RC's that they don't wish to receive library discards.  Not all members are aware they are postable and can be confused when they receive one...probably why the sender chose to make you aware of the situation.

I always like to PM the requester about anything that could be a problem. I have had wish-listed books that might have had a tear in the cover writing inside cover or something like that and I always PM them just to make sure that is fine with them. I have only had one request canceled because someone didn't want it with a tear in the cover. But I prefer to do it before-hand and get their response so if there is a problem later I have their email saying they want it. Kind of a way to make sure nothing goes wrong.

No problem at all, and it's not necessary to PM beforehand. Of course some people choose to do so, but IMO that can then lead to additional problems...for example, if the person doesn't respond to your PM before it's time to mail the book to say they do or don't want it, what do you do? Send it or cancel? Or if they say they do not want it--if it's wishlisted, you then basically have to cancel (if they cancel, they lose their place in the WL line) and you can't repost the book until that person has had another copy posted to them--otherwise your book goes to the same person when you post it again. If it's not a wishlisted book and someone is just requesting it from your shelf, you cancel and the book is removed from your shelf and reposting it puts you at the back of the line so it may be many weeks or months before it gets requested again. And if they cancel and re-order, the re-order will go back to you again, too.

It's much simpler to just rely on people's requestor conditions rather than PM'ing about things that ARE POSTABLE. If someone specifies "no ex-library books" and you decline for RCs, the request just moves along to the next person in line whether you are the sender or requestor--no one has to actually cancel their transaction, no one loses their place in line. SImple.

Cheryl

When I first came to PBS I'd send a PM letting people know if the book was ex-library.  Then I saw that I didn't need to do that and stopped.  I've only had one person comment on it.  As far as hardbacks go I prefer ex-library as they have the nice plastic cover over the dust jacket.  Pat

I didn't know I could post ex-library books here.

I'm like Pat, I like the library books I have received, especially the hardcovers with the plastic covering. I just came back from a FOL sale and chose some hardcover library books to post on here as they are in such excellent condition with the plastic covering. I don't know why anyone wouldn't like them unless of course they have an RC for that. Come to think of it, so far in the 2 years I have been here I've never received an RC on library books.

Bernadette: As long as the ex-library book meets the rest of the condition requirements, it is explicitely allowed.

The ex-library with the front page torn out, the cover coming off, and stamps all over everywhere--not postable, because it's not in good condition.

The ex-library with a cover on the DJ and a library stamp on the first page but not badly worn or damaged-- go ahead and post!

Just FYI if you haven't seen the Documents page for book guidelines, it's at...

http://www.paperbackswap.com/help/search.php?terms=guidelines

General remarks:

This is a used-book swapping site; books are not expected to be in like-new condition.

• Older books may have some page yellowing or spine-creasing or dogeared pages; these are all OKAY.
• 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've had some really, really nice library books come from the site, and was very glad to give them another home!