How to repair damaged book pages

March 3, 2019 1:43 PM

I need to repair a library book that I accidentally dropped in the mud. (Otherwise, I'm looking at a $115 fine; buying a replacement book is not allowed by this library.)

I managed to sand the dried mud stains off of the outside edges of the book. However, in doing so, I smashed down slightly about 1/4 of the books outside edges. These edges are no longer straight; they "fan" out from the other pages. Is there a way to straighten out these edges so they line up with the rest of the pages? Here's a drawing of the problem: IIIIIIIIIIIIIII -- pages lined up correctly
III I I I I IIIIII --what my book's pages are doing. Any suggestions gladly appreciated.

posted by Misslisa to Writing & Language (6 answers total)

Hey hey I dropped a library book in the mud yesterday too! I am going to wash the mud off of this book and call it a day. Press your book under something heavy for a few days and just leave it in the book drop. I am a librarian and unless this is some sort of super fancy art book, this should be fine. That said, is this an academic library? Public libraries are definitely used to more usual wear and tear and academic libraries may be more finicky. I usually go to this Caring for Your Treasures page from the American Institute for Conservation or the New Jersey state library has a good list of resources for Salvaging Library Materials (after a disaster) that might have some tips.
posted by jessamyn at 2:37 PM on March 3, 2019 [13 favorites]

I think if I could replace the book for a lot less, I'd be thinking "how can I transfer the library markings to the new book?"

oh my god no please do not ever do this i get that you are likely joking but no pls no

I understand that $115 sounds punitive, but part of that cost involves compensating the library workers who have to ensure that the replacement volume is identical to the one lost (right edition, etc) and who then must accession that replacement / decommission the old one. "Library markings" can be supremely persnickety and they all serve a purpose and noooooo please do not try to do this at home.

That said, unless the fanning problem is severe and is being caused by something seriously wrong with the binding/spine, or unless what you describe is actually that annoying page-waviness caused by moisture damage, the press-it-under-heavy-things solution described above should work. My library experience is also primarily academic but I've certainly seen worse (and weirder!) than this, and nobody got fined. (Not even the person who got lipstick and red wine all over what was, apparently, their favourite proof in Newton's Principia.)
posted by halation at 2:46 PM on March 3, 2019 [9 favorites]

You can’t transfer “library markings” over, if the library is using RFID you won’t have access to the correct database #’s for example (and I imagine th cost of a single RFId sticker from the correct company would be rather expensive). Nor would you be likely to know where their hidden security strips are in the book (hint: they are hidden).

As a library manager myself, you would most likely have the best result in talking to the manager and pleading forgiveness. But if the library is poorly funded that $115 book may be a big hit to their budget and they may not have the ability to waive much of it.
posted by saucysault at 5:28 PM on March 3, 2019 [2 favorites]

I lost a university library book and the written policy was similarly expensive. After contemplating, but ultimately rejecting, a "transfer library markings over" reverse heist, I talked with a librarian who said the REAL policy is if they find a cheaper replacement online, I could buy it and we'd be good. So, seconding "talk to a librarian".
posted by Ian Scuffling at 12:12 AM on March 4, 2019 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks to everyone who gave me advice; I ended up putting the book under a stack of heavy books for a few days; this helped somewhat, enough so that I turned in the book and so far, no complaints. I thought briefly of "transferring library markings", but saw quickly that was impossible, due to stampings, RFID or something similar embedded on the cover. Much more complicated than just buying a new book and slipping it into the original mylared cover.
I got this book through the LINK system (where library patrons can borrow books from other library systems); that's why the fine would have been so high.
posted by Misslisa at 9:46 PM on March 5, 2019

FYI, if you're referring to the California LINK+ system, my friend's dog took a literal bite out of her LINK+ library book and she was allowed to buy a replacement rather than pay the fine. If they do hassle you about it, it's worth asking.
posted by serelliya at 7:25 PM on March 6, 2019