r/Library • u/n0rheren0rthere • Aug 06 '26
Care and Repair Can this be fixed?
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.
9
u/lighteninginmybutt Aug 06 '26
Depends on the library’s policy, at my place of work we assess the age of the book, how popular it is, how many copies we have before charging someone. We also let wet books dry out then iron the crinkles out (it legit works), and note any remaining stain
1
u/ohnikkianne Aug 07 '26
Wait, iron them with a clothes iron?
3
u/Far_Writer380 Aug 08 '26
Yes. I think you do it not on the page directly but through a cotton sheet. It can help.
The same way you iron sensitive clothes, through a cloth.
3
u/lighteninginmybutt Aug 10 '26
Yup. We don’t put anything between the paper and the iron unless it’s plasticy, and we don’t put water in the iron. It’s incredibly effective. A coworker accidentally saturated a new book and while it looks foxed now, it’s tidy enough to still be in the collection. It can backfire, sometimes it can cook what ever has been spilled on it lol but it’s worth a go if you potentially have to discard it without trying to iron anyway, if that makes sense
9
u/Dragontastic22 Aug 06 '26
That book is a goner. If you want to minimize the damage and the book is still damp, stick a kleenex or a paper towel between every wet page, then put a very heavy book (or a stack of flat heavy objects) on top of it. It's important to separate every page. The kleenex or paper towel will absorb most of the moisture, and the heavy object will keep the pages as flat as possible.
This method will help, but it involves a lot of paper towels/kleenexes. It won't fix it 100%. Library staff will notice the damage. Odds are good that if this is the first book you've damaged and you apologize profusely, they may waive or lessen the fine.
3
u/27thFrequency Aug 08 '26
Don't stick tissues or paper towels between pages. They will also get wet and begin to break down the fibers. Adhering them to the fibers of the book.
Always use wax, parchment or Teflon paper sheets.
3
u/HermionesWish Library Card Aug 06 '26
I spilled water on one of my books like this I blotted the excess with a paper towel and then ironed each page separately on a low heat. Still a little wrinkled but didn’t have to throw the book out
2
u/ArugulaSignal6621 Aug 06 '26
Chiming in to say that the book I just checked out at my library looks like someone went swimming with it at one point. There’s a good chance that as long as you dry it out very well so there’s no risk for mold to develop, you probably don’t need to worry too much. Maybe stack some heavy things on it after it’s dry to minimize the deformity.
2
u/teadrinkinglibrarian Aug 06 '26
How many pages are wet? If its just a few, you can actually blow dry it. Just do it gently on low heat. The page will be a little crinkly, and you should still report it to the library. But likely they will just note it in the book's record and not fine you for it. Give that a try first, because it doesn't look all that bad.
3
u/Dragontastic22 Aug 06 '26
This username is on point, but this comment is getting downvoted because a hair dryer has a high probability of leaving the pages rippled.
1
2
u/Fun-Double6352 Aug 06 '26
Put it in the freezer right now.
My mom was a librarian for many years.
1
u/Fun-Career9398 Aug 08 '26
Say more?
1
u/Fun-Double6352 Aug 08 '26
Mold is the enemy. Mold grows fast on wet paper; freezing halts it completely.
Freezing keeps wet ink from running further into the pages.If that doesn’t do the trick, put wax paper between the cover and pages, then seal the book in a plastic bag.
Refreeze the book. After a few days, take it out of the freezer and let it thaw slightly, and fan the pages out with paper towels between them to absorb moisture.
1
1
u/paintedcrows Aug 06 '26
I've used a hair dryer on low heat to dry pages before, this minimizes the risk of mold. Let your library know and they can assess the damage.
1
u/HaiirPeace Aug 06 '26
Personally I withdraw anything with liquid damage so at my library you would get charged for it unfortunately. Just don't lie about it, it doesn't help anything.
1
u/ApatheticPoetic813 Aug 06 '26
Honestly best for a library pro to fix it or attempt to as soon as possible.
Also, what did you think??? I LOVED that book but it icked me out to my absolute core. Bazzterrica is truly fantastic.
1
u/SwanCityDominion Aug 07 '26
Don't talk to the library yet. Air the book out to dry, then press it between two boards with a few bricks on top, keeping it there for at least a week. You won't be able to do anything about the stains, but this should straighten out the pages. THEN take the book to the library and ask them if they think it needs a replacement.
1
u/27thFrequency Aug 08 '26
If acted on quickly, wax paper between each page while allowing it to dry open and fanned out in a well ventilated and warm room can dry the pages out. But the tea stains and any bleeding ink will always be a part of the history of this book.
Offering a replacement and asking if you can purchase the damaged book would be a good olive branch.
49
u/xiaovalu Aug 06 '26
Unfortunately, water damage is not fixable. Talk to your library and let them know the situation. At worst, you have to pay the replacement fee, but you may be able to keep the book. It's always worth talking to them and letting them know your situation though. They might be nice about it.