So I just received a book from thriftbooks and it has a library barcode on it that’s been scratched out. Does this mean it was stolen? I really wouldn’t want to keep a book that was stolen from a public library. I know it’s not that hard for a library to replace a stolen book but just the principle of it makes me feel icky. Anyone else encounter this on thriftbooks or similar secondhand book sites?
by 87penguinstapdancing
6 Comments
Thriftbooks sells library books all the time!
Not an expert but I think that’s somewhat common to see when libraries sell off books they used to own, I think my library does something similar.
Our library puts on a sale every year and scratches out the barcodes!
Just for a little more context; the library in my town sells their old books, or ones that don’t get checked out very often, and they always cross out the barcode with a black marker before they do so it can’t be accidentally scanned into the system again.
Unless it was explicitly described as “Ex-library” I’d return it and ask for a refund.
Nope. My library regularly withdraws books from our collection and discards them in exactly the manner you’re describing—scribbling over the barcode. It’s very common. Doubt it’s stolen.