Pro tip: Check the library's 'repair' pile before you judge a book by its cover

I was at the main branch of the Seattle Public Library last week, just browsing their old reference section. I spotted a book in their 'to be mended' cart that had been 'fixed' with what looked like an entire roll of packing tape. The spine was completely encased in it, shiny and thick. I asked the librarian about it, and she just sighed and said, 'A volunteer got creative.' Has anyone else seen a 'repair' job that made you want to cry a little?

3 comments

3 Comments

linda_knight511mo ago

Oh that's just painful to hear. I once saw a first edition poetry book where someone had "fixed" a torn page with bright orange duct tape. It covered up half the text on that page. That kind of well-meaning damage is honestly worse than the original wear and tear. It totally kills the soul of the old book.

gonzalez.vera1mo ago

What did they even do with the book after that, was it just left as a total loss? I always wonder about the thought process, like did they really think the orange tape was a good match or were they just using whatever was in the junk drawer. It's that mix of trying to help but not stopping to ask if maybe you shouldn't. Makes me worry about all the other stuff that's been "saved" in ways we can't fix.

saraht771mo ago

Yeah, that "well-meaning damage" thing... I read about a museum that had to undo decades of homemade "fixes" that did way more harm than good.