When working with circulating materials or new donations to the collection, we sometimes find books with damage. Sometimes older donated items have already had a "home repair" with household materials.

While it may be tempting to try a quick-fix, it is best to send such materials to Preservation. Often such well-meaning efforts involve the use of acidic or adhesive materials. The Preservation Unit can usually mend these paper tears, for instance, using an ultrathin, non-acidic transparent paper.

Sometimes when checking books that have been returned to the library after circulating, we find these types of "home repairs". These have probably caused more damage and usually involve acidic and adhesive materials. Such materials often need to be replaced.