Highlighting and markings: Defacing or loving?

I'll often make notes in my own books. What's quite fun is finding a book I've read years ago and reading the notes again. I like it

The second-hand book buying opportunites here are incredible!    

Aren't they just.

As far as markings go...

If it ain't my book, it gets treated properly, i.e., no writing in or on it, no breaking the spine and NO dog-earring the pages!

If I own it, then I do write in them occasionally. I don't sell my books. I use them to help keep my house anchored and from whizzing off this planet.

I think 'dog ears' are the ultimate sin against a book!!

I think 'dog ears' are the ultimate sin against a book!!

I'm guilty as charged.

I don't write in books but when I met my husband, he horrified that I doggie eared my cookbooks.  I did it to mark the recipes that sounded interesting.  He bought me a pack of small post its so I didn't doggie ear anymore LOL.  I have been using the post its ever since, except on the rare occasion I run out of them and I'm looking through a new cookbook.

June

I often like to pass on books that Ive read which i particularly enjoyed (besides really expensive Uni books) so i dont tend to write in them.  Its weird, but a good book gives me sooo much enjoyment, that I like to share that with others.  Highlights and markings would only make them stumble over the words and not form their own opinion of the book... because they would be reading mine in the margins.

I think 'dog ears' are the ultimate sin against a book!!

Strangely enough, I agree.  Although I'll highlight, underline, make notes, and break the spine...I never dog ear a book.  For some reason I feel like bent pages (to me) look like the book has been improperly used.

I know, I know - I'm a hypocrite.  I guess I feel like all these other things are natural.  A book is already pages stained with ink, why not add my handwriting to the font (as long as it's for my personal use only), breaking the spine happens after a few good reads without trying - but dog ears are... ... The pages don't naturally bend that way.  Instead I use a million bookmarks for one book (sometimes).

I don't know why either.  I feel a little silly knowing this about myself.

Oh No the biggest crime is breaking the spine. The pages fall out  and there is nothing worse than to discover pages missing.

At least you can still read a dog-earred page. Though that, too, is a big no no.

What a very interesting thread this is.

I just want you all to know that I've been keeping an eye on this thread, and am taking down names of the most serious offenders! 

Actually, I might be a book conservator, but I treat my own books absolutely disgracefully. Dog ears, broken spines, pens, highlighters, dropped in the bath, you name it, I've done the crime.

btw, ink doesn't actually degrade paper. The reason libraries and archives forbid the use of pens in reading rooms is simply because modern ink is almost impossible to remove from paper, while pencil can just be erased! The ink doesn't cause any actual damage itself, but not too many places will welcome permanent marks, accidental or otherwise, on their material.

Wow, I'm impressed at how many of you loan out your books!  I have a fairly strict "it doesn't leave my house" policy.  I've had too many borrowed and never returned to risk it.

As far as highlighting, I only ever did it to textbooks in school, and even then not that often.  I much more of a notetaker than a highlighter.  Although, I will admit to the occasional snarky comment in a margin here and there during a particularly dull lecture!

The only exceptions to the rule are plays.  I have notes, stage directions and cues scribbled all over them - always in pencil.  But those tend to be books you purchase knowing they're going to be mangled.

Wow, I'm impressed at how many of you loan out your books!  I have a fairly strict "it doesn't leave my house" policy.  I've had too many borrowed and never returned to risk it.

Since I have all my books catalogued on LibraryThing, I just add a tag if I've lent someone a book. That way, I always know who has it. And I will come knocking on your door if you don't return it. 

I always felt bad about not loaning books out, it's good to know I am not alone.

Found this interesting piece from: http://www.tappinbookmine.com/bookcar2.htm

How to not Loan books.

Just say no. Definitely simple. Not always easy. In the interest of preserving friendships and maintaining peace in the family, here are some suggestions on how to back up a "No" reply to the question , "may I borrow this book for a few weeks?"

Act throughly stunned when the dreaded question is posed to you. If in fact the book in question is of little value or importance to you, go ahead and loan it, but do it so reluctantly and with such obvious angst, that in the future the borrower will not be amazed when you decline to loan a book.

Say no with a short laugh as if the request was so obviously tongue in cheek as to not be worthy of a discussion or apology.

Act a little wierd all the time. People are a little afraid of that, and are less likely to ask you for favors in general. This is a popular and successful technique used by sailors to keep officers in line. Works pretty well. Keep in mind that after a while the acting becomes the normal behavior, so think about how you're going to do this in advance.

Offer your toothbrush instead. Keep an old one around just in case the would be borrower says ok.

Keep loaner copies around of your favorite books. This serves the dual purpose of protecting your good books as well as recruiting more potential collectors of good books. The long term effect is to enhance the demand and value of your good books. It is also good for booksellers

I don't sell my books. I use them to help keep my house anchored and from whizzing off this planet.

I think I'll borrow that, if you don't mind! 

I don't highlight or write (with pen), but I do, to my BFs horror, occasionally dog ear. Like Britwife, I think teachers and librarians were so strict about writing in books, I've never been able to get past it. I only dog ear if I own the book and I'll always go back and fix them when I'm finished. I can't stand to buy a highlighted text book as I'll never read between the highlights.

As for loaning out books, I never used to do it, but then I kind of thought of it as "paying it forward". You know, I find a book I really enjoy, I should pass it on to someone else to enjoy and hope they pass it on to someone else. My good friend did this to me with a book about a group of 4 girlfriends and I thought that was kind of cool.

I'll often make notes in my own books. What's quite fun is finding a book I've read years ago and reading the notes again. I like it

Same here!

Unfortunately for me I majored in a business degree in college....so wrong for me at the time but I listened to my parents, a grave mistake I must say!

Anyway, I did have a few liberal arts courses which I LOVED (the Professors were passionate and amazing). I still have an English Lit book that is great and I penciled in notes as the Professor was speaking....I love looking back at the interpretation. 

Since I have all my books catalogued on LibraryThing, I just add a tag if I've lent someone a book. That way, I always know who has it. And I will come knocking on your door if you don't return it. 

I kept track similarly (kept a little spreadsheet), but that didn't stop people from losing them.  Or loaning them to THEIR friends, forgetting it wasn't theirs in the first place.  It's easier to keep them here with me.

My bookses.  My preciousssssss.