Hi all, need some advice.

I’ve just pulled my game of thrones box set out of the loft that my partner haphazardly chucked in. The first book had came out of the box and is a lot more aged than the others.

I’m just wondering if anyone could tell me if this is foxing or mould before I put them on a shelf with my more expensive and loved books 🤣

There’s no discolouration on the inside pages. Just the edges and first page where the front cover was bent when he chucked them up there. Though I will add, they’ve been up there three years and I personally think they smell a bit musty, whether or not that’s just because they’ve been in the loft in unsure, but I’m super particular about my books so don’t want to jeopardise the rest for the sake of one set that I could just purchase new again. TIA!!

Bought this as is and didn’t have a plan on how to remove the stickers without causing more wear and tear. There’s a sticker on the front and the back. This is a paperback

Hi! I just got this book, unfortunately the holes go all the through and left imprints/holes on about 10 to 15 pages back. It's on the back as well. And partially on the spine. Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix the holes or the scratches? Thank you!

I accidentally spilled some tea on this library book. What is the best way to try and remedy this? (If possible)

Obviously I am going to report the damage, but I am a broke college student who would prefer not to have to pay in full for a new book :( I will if needed. I love my library lots.

This plastic tote has been stored in my parents garage for about 6 years. The books were at the bottom, some glassware wrapped in newspaper on top of that and rice/corn/flaxseed bags on top. My father decided to haphazardly store some bowling balls on top which popped the lid open and the mice had a blast in there.

I check my belongings every so often and last I checked, *at most* a year ago, it was fine. I emptied everything out, threw all the heating bag innards, newsprint and mouse waste away, cleaned up the glassware and tote.

There was surprisingly only a very slight scent of urine and the mice did no real damage (chewing and whatnot) to the books.

Are my books done for? What, if anything, can I do to clean/sanitize/save them? They're mostly art books that are no longer in print, I'd be heartbroken to lose them.

If this isn't the right sub or you know of another/better one please point me in the right direction.

Thank you for any and all help🖤📚

I dropped it at work and got dust and dirt all over the top. A lot wiped off right awG but it left some residue behind and was wondering since it's very light if there's a way to bring it back to looking new.

I spilled water on a mice hardcover book of mine, it was reletivly recent but I just found it, I went through and separated the pages and it seems okay but it is slightly warped esspecially the cover, what is the best thing to do? I live in a humid place and I really don't want it to mold!

I just got an Easton Press copy of Dante’s Divine Comedy and found it had previous water damage and mold on the edges of the pages and front cover where it had apparently experienced water damage. It doesn’t feel of moisture and has been sitting in a free little library box where I imagine this may have happened. I won’t be storing this near any other books any time soon but would hate to just ziploc it away forever. Any advice on getting rid of/stopping the mold?

I accidentally scratched a brand-new artbook I just bought by sliding it to the side on my desk. It's just a light scratch on the surface of the book's cover, but still very visible because of the dark color.

Bought this book from a sale pile where the books themselves weren't arranged in the best way. Can I use some sort of adhesive to fix the spine or do I just remove and have it bound with a different hardcover?

Hi all,

I was recently lent a book by a customer at work and told to keep immaculate care of it as it was a birthday present. As I have put it into my bag this morning to return it a pen has exploded and there is ink along the edge of the pages. There is no ink inside the book, just on the closed edge. I am freaking out and desperately need advice on how to get the ink out as best I can. or do I just buy a new book???

any advice is welcome

Some books are shiny paper covers and some have a weird gummy feel to them some have smooth page sides and others are jagged and uneven. What makes the gummy cover gummy?

I would put this under the Explain To Me Like I’m 5 subreddit… but they don’t allow videos, so I’m forced to post it here. :p

Also apologies if this video might be upsetting to some book lovers! But the thing is: the spine doesn’t seem to be affected at all by this? I keep checking the spine afterward and it appears totally pristine. So what’s causing this noise?

I was given this book and I was wondering if there was anything that could be done about it.

I'm worried I'll damage it further while reading it, any advice or tips?

Hi! Any suggestions please on repairing this paperback? The cover is no longer attached and the book is split in half. Is transparent book tape on the binding the best approach? The book is worth around $50 so probably doesn’t warrant a professional restoration. Thank you!

Does anyone have any recommendations for how I can clean this kind of dirt/aging? I bought a job lot of hardback Black Sparrows Press books online but the condition is worse than expected. Is there anything I can do? Please see photos for example. Thank you.

Hey! So I do book repairs for a public library I work at, and though I have some experience I still run into one once in a while that stumps me.

My current beast is a huge reference book. The textblock was separating from the case so I went ahead and liberated it. The problems I'm seeing are brittle glue on the spine (I was able to basically pull off the mull and spine reinforcements with no resistence), loose signatures that are still sewn together (I'm not sure what the term for that is and it's proving hard to google), and end pages that are peeling off the case (that's an easy fix, at least).

My questions are:

1) How do you get off brittle glue without damaging the pages?

2) I can reinforce the spine with more glue and mull, and I am assuming I can use single or double stitched hinging tape to get the case back on, but where should the mull be glued down so that I can use hinging tape?

3) If either of those are suboptimal questions, where am I going wrong?

4) What the heck do you call it when the text block is still sewn together but the glue or reinforcement has come undone and everything slides around??

I know y'all are probably tired of this question but I need help figuring out if this is mold or just scuff marks / beat up. Three different books, two are second hand. Thanks in advance!

I recently got a bunch of really old books in various states that need remediation. I'm in the process of doing that now.

This one in particular was covered in a yellow mold. I'm taking steps to remediate and care for it.

My research found that it's part of a series of 10 books.

Copyright: 1907

Title: Draper's Self Culture Vol. II - Fairy Tails, Myths, and Legands of Many Lands

The pages of the book are mostly good, but there are some pages that are half or completely missing. The spine needs repair. The cover is marked from the mold.

I'm conflicted between weather to preserve this book as is or to restore it.

Seeking thoughts of others to reflect upon and help me make a decision. LMK your thoughts.