Removing labels from book spines

Olivia Freeman <oliviajfreeman [at] aol__com> writes

>I am assisting with the library at the Ski Club of Great Britain.
>the library contains some very valuable books. In the past, someone
>has stuck brightly coloured labels on the book spines.

You might first try moistening a cotton tip applicator/Q-tip with
water or your saliva and rolling/rubbing it gently over the top or
under a corner of the label that comes up.  As the paper of the
label and old adhesive gives away underneath, gently lift the label
off.  A tweezer helps.  If the adhesive residue is left on the book
spine try a Rubber Cement Pick-up available in art stores.  Rub in a
circular motion.  Patience is the key. This seems to work on most
cloth depending on how long the sticker has been on the book.  I
don't know about leather and the damage water would cause and I
don't know about using any solvents.  Good luck,

Marie Kelzer
Preservation Unit Manager
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA  94102-4733
415-557-4302
Fax: 415-557-4324


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 14:45
                 Distributed: Friday, February 16, 2001
                       Message Id: cdl-14-45-006
                                  ***