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pauliewotsit t1_ixh53pn wrote

I leave it on, the value isn't that high to begin with (when was the last time you saw a first edition hardback in a library?) I also leave the label inside too, as trying to remove that just tends to rip the page it's stuck to.

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HeyItsTheMJ t1_ixh6cuc wrote

Just about every hardback in my library system is a first edition. They typically purchase books straight away and then there are donations. Any damaged book goes in the shop to sell.

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DuurtMcguurt OP t1_ixh5mtb wrote

I travel a lot for work and you would not believe some of the things being destroyed because they either don't care or don't have resources to preserve them, just a few recent pickups include:

  • a First edition UK printing of the crying of lot 49 -A first edition of ritual by pinner -A first UK edition of Jules Verne's the Danube pilot -A limited of 1000 (mine is 799) edition of great expectations printed in 1880

It's absolutely heartbreaking to see how these books are treated if you don't get to them in time.

Also thanks, I generally leave them on also but I've been curious recently. Maybe I can have a professional in restoration do it so I don't screw it up.

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Ineffable7980x t1_ixh51i9 wrote

I'm not a collector, so I will respond from a reader's point of view. I don't particularly care for those plastic covers, but if I buy a library book used, I accept it for what it is and know that it will be protected for a long period of time. However, if I come across a better copy of a book, like a really good used trade paperback or a good quality used hardcover that's not a library edition, I will often swap it out for the library one I have.

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HeyItsTheMJ t1_ixh6fty wrote

I hate the plastic. For me it’s a noise and texture thing. I also tend to read with the jacket off if I’m able.

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YoC_ t1_ixh6ogz wrote

When I get old library books I like to keep all the stickers and cards and stuff that it came with. Idk pi like the story of where it came from.

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throwaway-clonewars t1_ixh7mar wrote

I personally don't care for them. I'm very much a "keep books pristine" type though, so it's the added card slot, the stamps and the plastic cover that annoy me.

That being said, I won't NOT get library copies if I'm looking for a book and that's the only copy I find, but if I ever find a better non library copy I'm for sure cycling that one out.

I have half the mind to repair old library books so they last longer, but I'm not sure it'd be worth the supply cost and time unless it was a rare or special version of a book (like there's tons of Dan browns, so no one would want a restored Dan brown when there's another like 10 at other thift stores.

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DuurtMcguurt OP t1_ixha53e wrote

Totally makes sense, the thing is I travel for work and you would not believe some of the books libraries are destroying and selling for pennies just to not deal w them anymore. First editions of Jules Verne, Pynchon, Dickens limited reprints from 1880 etc. It's absolutely wild and sad but I try and save as many as I can when I can.

So I'm thinking for books like those I won't bother touching them and have a professional remove the plastic and touch it up. May be worth it for a 100 year old first edition or things like that.

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throwaway-clonewars t1_ixhvhj8 wrote

Oh I think that's definitely a region thing. You said you're UK?

USA libraries, at least the ones I've seen don't have anything super valuable like that. Ours are more recent books that are already mass marketed (I think a few have library special editions like Nancy Drew) so versions like that hold little value. All the older texts are either in a special area or they've been long gone by now- unless it's a college or large state library.

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DuurtMcguurt OP t1_ixhwzts wrote

Nope I'm US based but my work has me traveling around to lots of poorer countries. Unfortunately for them the most important books are the ones read often, not historically significant. So if no one has checked out a 1st edition of catch 22 or whatever other incredibly rare and valuable book, those are marked for destruction.

It's incredibly sad but understandable, you have limited resources/space and 100 people want to read 50 shades of gray while 1 person in 30 years has checked out 20,000 leagues under the sea. Which do you keep on the shelf especially if your library job is government appointed and you don't care much for literary history.

If you ever travel in 3rd world countries I highly recommend visiting any public or local libraries, especially older ones established during colonial times. They can be treasure trove of books you may get for pennies or even free because they just want to get rid of them.

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books-ModTeam t1_ixh7fon wrote

Hi there. Your post would be better asked in our Simple Questions thread. It helps us keep the main subreddit focused around broader discussion rather topics which only apply to an individual. Thank you!

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