I received a book today with a broken spine, but I'm not sure if I should mark it RWAP.  Here's a photo: http://i31.tinypic.com/jb1amp.jpg

The pages aren't loose (yet), but I'm not sure if the binding qualifies as "intact" or not.  Suggestions?

Binding:

• Must be intact, with no separation on the inside or outside of the book
• If the book tends to open at a particular page, this is OKAY
• Small amount of fraying or denting at top or bottom is OKAY

Yes, that's a RWAP.   The postability guidelines say nothing about broken spines.  I think that's because the definition of a broken spine differs depending who you talk to.   What they do say is that books posted on PBS ....

.......Must be intact, with no separation on the inside or outside of the book

From the picture you posted, there is definite separation between the pages.  So it's not a postable book.

Lynne is correct; mark it RWAP and request the return of your credit (if you want it back).

I actually believe this is a gray area in the separation issue that has been hashed out in the forums over and over. All pages are intact (meaning not separating from the book) and they are all still attached to the books binding. After watching many discussions about this in the forums, I believe this falls more into second line of the HC "If the book tends to open at a particular page, this is OKAY". I would never send one out like that, but I also wouldn't mark one RWAP. That is just my opinion, but I think the opinions run the whole spectrum on this topic.

ETA: this thread has the Team's feedback on the issue of cracked spines and it what made me decide not to mark these as RWAP.

I'm with Melanie...I have received books that are separating like this--I don't know if any of the books have been quite this bad, but I wouldn't mark it RWAP--on the other hand I wouldn't send out a book in this condition either.

Looks cracked, not broken to me.

I think this the key sentence in the Team's response.

What matters here is if the pages are securely attached. If they are likely to fall out on the next reading, then the book should not be posted.

Do you think the books are securely attached, Jeremy? Or if you turn the page, would they start falling off?

Thanks for the responses, everyone.  At the moment the pages are fairly secure, not coming loose at the top or bottom, and I don't think that I'm going to do much further damage when I read through it.  After reading the PBS Team's response I don't think I'll mark it RWAP but I'll probably keep it out of the system in the future.  Thanks again.

One of the most important points here is would you send it yourself. A couple have said it wasn't a rwap but they wouldn't send it. It's probably going to fall apart when you read it. No matter what, I wouldn't send it  and that's how I judge. Plus, open and close it a few times. If it fallls apart, there you go. If it seperates some, still a rwap. If it feels good and firm then it just got hard, lol. Those usually don't last to long though. Seperate is seperate.

I've gotten a number of books similar to your, Jeremy.  Was disappointed in the condition, but did not RWAP because the pages were not loose.  These go into my 'giveaway' pile, because like William, I refuse to post a book that I would be disappointed to receive, even if PBS would allow it in this condition.

I guess I am in the minority as I do think that book does fall in the "not postable" area.   The intergrity is compromised and the pages are more likely to come loose quicker, even if they are not are now.   That would esp. be true if if were a MMPB. 

Just wanted to bump this subject to the top.

I just got a recently published paperback book with a cleaved spine in 2 places and only the book cover is holding the book together, that's unpostable to me because the cover won't hold up for very long as well as the pages staying intact.

I think it is a RWAP.

My opinion is .... if the glue in the spine is completely cracked in half and only paper is holding the spine together, then it is not a intact binding.

The spine can be worn enough that the book falls open to a page without the spine being cracked into 2 independant pieces only held together by paper.

So, I would probably RWAP that one.

OK, just realized that this is a very old thread!

Nevermind!

I agree, while I would not mail one like that I believe it is cracked, not broken.

Unfortunately a lot of that type of damage can happen in mail when they aren't careful with packages.  Spine was probably fine when it was wrapped!