if you can't mail a book, are you supposed to put why you can't mail it or is that optional?

i just got the email that the WL book that had been on my list for OVER TWO YEARS will not be able to be mailed but there was no explanation why. can't remember if that was standard or something new.

No, you do not have to offer a reson for not mailing.

Many people would, just to be polite, but it is not required.

You could PM the sender, and politely, ask if there is a reason? Something like "Hi, I happened to notice that you cancelled my request for "this book". I was just wondering what happened? Thanks!"

Could be, the sender noticed it became unpostable, somehow, and just cancelled. Maybe you would want it anyway.

Could be, they just couldn't find it when they went to wrap it up. Nothing to be done about that one.

On the few occasions I've not been able to mail a book requested, I have always PM'd the other member and explained why.  I don't recall ever receiving the same courtesy, however.

I  just had to mark one as not able to mail.  It wasn't a waitlisted book.   It did require that I give a reason.  But, I assume it went to PBS not the requestor.

My reason just for kicks:  My husband and I both read a particular series.  I read the book first and then give it to my husband.  The books have similar 2 word titles that make it hard to remember which ones were read.  When I looked through my pile of bookshelf books to fill the request, it wasn't there.  It was on his nightstand.  Oops.  I guess he hadn't read that one yet.

This was a heavily posted book.  If it had been a waitlisted book - I would have PM'd.