Book Buying Addicts Anonymous discussion

I have so many books that it would cost me a fortune to kit them all out with bookplates. I don't even usually write my name in a book unless I am lending it out. But I really like the looks of some bookplates, and imagine how elegant it would be to use them.

I don't use bookplates, but I recently bought an embosser with my name on top of my monogram and I really like the way it looks in the corner of the blank page. Subtle, but obviously mine.

This is the first I have heard of a book plate. I dont put anything in my books to claim them, I am really weird and hate the slightest imperfection! I cannot stand when the corners are folded!

I use bookplates and I love them. I don't loan out my books often but I like knowing that my name is in each and every one of them. And, surprisingly, it didn't cost as much as I thought it would and I own hundreds of books.

Nope, I've never heard of bookplates until now.

I have some bookplates that authors have sent me with their siggy and a cute note, and I put them in the books by them that I own.

@Ashley, I'm the same way. It kinda . . . bothers me to write or stick something in the book. Feels like an imperfection. It's funny though because I do have a pack of really nice bookplates someone bought for me.

The idea of embossing sounds lovely though! No residue from a sticky bookplate, no pen marks, no ink blots. I might have to look into that. I like that it's subtle but still leaves a mark.

I took a grad class on rare books and one of the things we discussed was provenance--who the book belonged to. I'm pretty sure I don't have any truly rare books, but who's to know in the distant future? :) I always write my name and the month and year I read the book on the flyleaf or title page. I also write in my books if I have any thoughts about the book. This is why I want to own them. Mine with my thoughts. I don't generally speaking use bookplates though. Doesn't seem worth the cost, but I do have a set of Harry Potter bookplates...somewhere.

I want!
I just sent an email to my husband informing him that I want some for my birthday next month :-)
I write my name in most of my books, after debating with my mother in law whether it was my book she had borrowed or her own. (IT WAS mine, MINE! :-)

Fortunately not many peoople I know like the books I read (if they read at all). So I do not need to label them.

It's a must to use bookplates on those incrediable books that will stay forever within your library. Years later you can look back and remember what a awesome ride it was.

Hmm... never heard of a bookplate before...

I used to use bookplates when I was a kid -- we had really cool holographic animal ones :) I remember whales being on mine. Wonder if I still have any of the books those went into.

Now I have roughly 700 books and I couldn't imagine putting bookplates in all of them O.O

I haven't thought about putting book plates in my books, but I have considered making use of all those address labels that charities like to send. However, considering I have over 8700 books, I don't think I'll do it.

Some of my books are sort of rotated in and then rotated out to Goodwill. I am resigned to keeping it down to around 400 so when I finish a book it goes on the Goodwill pile. The upside is I have an empty space on the shelf. So as nice as bookplates sound they're really not practical for me because a book I think that's staying may end up going.

I use a Sharpie on the side, all the rest can be torn out, bad college habit, yes, but about as permanent as anything other than branding.

Since they are pricey if you want to do an entire library, I use a bookstamp I ordered with my name on it. Well, a few of them actually.

But yes, bookplates are great.

ooooh a stamp would be cool.

I don't use a book plate; but I use an Embosser on books that I know will be staying in my library. Book plates do sound interesting to put on my older/antique books!

I am with Ashley. I use an embosser that states that the book is from my library. I only use it on books I know for sure that I am keeping. I did love learning about book plates.

My husband recently bought me an embosser for my birthday, which I will only use on keepers. We will most likely be moving next year, so I am thinking of embossing them all when I restructure my library, rather than drag them all off the shelves now. I can't wait though! \booknerd

Pixie ☕ wrote: "My husband recently bought me an embosser for my birthday, which I will only use on keepers. We will most likely be moving next year, so I am thinking of embossing them all when I restructure my library, rather than drag them all off the shelves now. I can't wait though!"

That certainly would be a good time to do it. I've considered marking my books as mine somehow, but I must admit I am dreading pulling each of my over 8000 books off the shelf one by one. I just did a major shifting of the shelves for my fantasy books and that was bad enough. Oh well, maybe one day. :-)

It's fun. What I did was pull down shelves at the time and stamp while watching TV.

Joseph wrote: "I haven't thought about putting book plates in my books, but I have considered making use of all those address labels that charities like to send. However, considering I have over 8700 books, I don..."

That is what I use.