How to remove library stickers from books

I buy a lot of used books and they often include ex-library copies. I love going to library sales and buying piles of books for a buck but I also want them to look somewhat uniform on my shelves. Yesterday I was asked about removing dust jacket covers so I figured this would be the perfect topic for a tips and tricks post.

Removing Dust Jacket Protectors:

This can be really easy or really hard depending on what the library uses to secure the cover to the book. I prefer libraries that use the tape.

For Tape Removal-

• Peel the tape off the dust jacket over side only. Do not try to remove the tape from the book. IT will tear the cover.
• Once the jacket is loose, fold the tape under it so it sticks to the book itself. You most likely cannot remove it entirely without causing damage.
• Slide the dust cover out of the protector through the open end.

For Glue:

Glue is much more difficult. You may have to decide if you’re ok with a little damage to the inside of the book. It will be covered by the dust jacket or you can cover it with a matching paper to the end papers. I usually pry the dust jacket off with a sharp knife to minimize damage. You can then slide the jacket out of the protector like you normally would.

Removing Library Markings:


Ex-Library books come with tons of stickers, and if you’re like me it will drive you nuts. Here are some ways to get rid of those stickers so your books will match your collection a little bit better.

• You can try peeling the stickers off slowly, if you see the sticker starting to tear then move on to a different corner.
• If that doesn’t work you can use a hair dryer to melt the glue holding the sticker on to the book. This may take several minutes so be patient.
• Some people use baby oil on stickers. I have not gotten this method to work very well as it leave the sticker glue behind.
• If none of these work you may want to invest in some goo-gone.

These methods will get rid of stickers on both the spine and back of the book.

I hope this Tips and Tricks is helpful, leave thoughts and suggestions for future Tips and Tricks posts in the comments.

At a book sale in support of your local library, you discover a title you really want, one you’ve longed to find for years, one you may have given up hope of ever owning. Now it’s in sight, now in your grasp, and the price is right, a dollar or two going to a good cause.

But you’re not happy. In fact, you may be disappointed. You’ve found something you want, and it’s in bad shape. Its tattered dusk jacket bears the volume’s former shelf address as expressed by Dewey, its quota of library stamps and pockets and other stigmata attest to years of circulation, its dingy look and grimy feel suggest not so much as a single meaningful cleaning since the day it was cataloged. There may be evidence of many readers, from fingerprints to dog-ears to marginal notes.

This has happened to us so many times that we’ve outgrown every reaction but the urge to rush the book to the cashier and then back to what we think of as our M*A*S*H unit, our medicine chest for ailing books. Is there a dealer or collector out there who can’t recall, and weep and recriminate as the story unfolds, a book that wasn’t bought because it was in poor condition, often because it was ex-library, with all that term entails? The remedy for the human condition is simple: see the book, buy the book, especially at library sale prices. Remedies for the former library book’s condition are more varied, but not much more complicated.

We’ve described a host of products and methods for cleaning, restoring, and repairing books in this column, and they apply to library discards. To contend with what has been applied to books that have lived in libraries — from prominent tags on the spine to endpaper pockets and electronic “marcs” on removable adhesive strips — you may need additional help. What kind, and how much, depends on how you value the rescued book, and for what purpose.

We’ll assume that any book is valuable enough to save. A book with monetary value — even libraries discard them now and then — may deserve a trip to a professional, whose assessment can make the difference between salvaging a library book and truly saving it. Most of the books that check out of the library forever and whose value may be lasting but anything but monetary can still contribute to our lives as readers and our livelihoods as dealers. But first, we need to decide how much we want to alter them.

Ex-library markings can detract from the appearance of books, but with the proper tools and techniques you can help your favorite ex-libs look and feel better.

One can make a case for preserving library markings. If we support libraries, must we necessarily eradicate all trace of them from books they discard? As the computer age changes how library books are managed, old-fashioned pockets may become a relic, and they can be handy for holding your bookmark while you read or for housing notes. Library stamps and other markings, often including perforations, are meant to be permanent, and usually are.

At the very least, library rescues need basic cleaning. Many of these books have had hard lives, so while the need for cleaning may be obvious, so should be the need for extra care. Never forget that the more effective the cleaner, the more abrasive it can be, and the wearier the book, the more it must be spared abrasive cleaning methods. Start with the usual soft cloth, then move on as needed to the Artgum eraser and other famous brand names in the field.

If you’re determined to remove a library pocket, you can try such products as un-du Label and Tape Remover (available here), followed by a minute or two of low heat from a hairdryer. The multipurpose Document Cleaning Pad (available here) can help in removing residue.

Rehabilitate enough library books, and you’ll become intimately acquainted with rubber cement. To cope with its removal, try a long-lasting crepe rubber eraser called Pik-Up (available here), which works on many other adhesives, too.

Dust jackets, often encased in heavy-duty plastic covers complete with library labels or other markings, can be refreshed with a cleaning, mending if needed, and a new clear plastic jacket cover (available in the Bibliophiles’ Shop). We’ve found many library dust jackets badly creased and wrinkled, and have probably smoothed and ironed more jackets from library sales than from any other source.

When a dust jacket is absent and boards show accumulated dirt and wear, gently wiping superficial soil is just the beginning. Chances are that colors and detail can be restored by using something like Clean Cover Gel and a little elbow grease. Badly worn covers may benefit from the addition of a clear plastic cover, for protection from dirt and ultraviolet rays.

Perhaps the best favor we can all do for library books is to offer them help before they land on the sales table. If you’re reading this column, you may be an advocate for book care. Ask your local library if a donation of your time and book-care skills is needed. You’ll be well paid with satisfaction, and the library can always offer you a discard book or two for more TLC at home.

Can you remove a library stamp from a book?

Is Goo Gone safe on books?