All markings directly applied to books should be either in pencil or printed on labels (such as call number labeling). Pens or other similar permanent writing tools are inappropriate for marking processing instructions directly into books.

Library ownership and other stamps should be applied with proper support given the spines and text blocks, and placed so that printed and visual information is not obscured. Too much ink on a stamp can ruin a cover or page of a book. For proper property stamp instructions, see: Where to Apply Bookstamp.

See also the Stamps & Strips tab of this LibGuide.

Careless opening of a new book, or a newly bound book, can crack its spine. All staff who need to open a new book, especially cataloging and acquisitions staff who need to examine the contents, should use the proper technique in opening a new book. Other staff and students who open shelf-ready books need to also be aware of how to properly open a new book:

• place the book on its spine on a flat surface
• with text-block upright, open the front cover and run fingers gently along the hinge
• do the same to the back cover side
• do the same with front and back end sheet pages
• open small sections of pages (front & back), applying the same gentle pressure with fingers, until the entire book is open. Hold the text block in the same upright position during the process.

Support book spines and covers if holding books open.

If books have been received that have been outside in winter weather and are still cold, wait until they come to room temperature before opening. Cold causes the adhesives to become stiff and brittle -- so opening them too soon or too much can cause damage.

Many books do not lie flat when opened, and often require some effort to keep them open. During cataloging or other processing activities, use of a book snake, book stand, sheet of plexiglass, or soft and flexible weights is the best way to hold a book open when it is too awkard to use just hands. NEVER use a weighty object such as another book because of the damaging stress which the weight exerts on the spine of the open book.

In addition, very few publisher's bindings are designed to withstand the rigors of library use. As production costs rise, cutbacks are often made in the quality of the bookwork. As a result the libraries often receive new books in progressively weaker bindings.