Scotch 845 book tape ($7) is a staple for elementary school teachers, but it is handy to keep in your household hardware drawer. It looks like packing tape but is very different. It is specifically designed for repairing or protecting books (though it isn’t designed for serious book repair. More on that below.)

The good:

• The tape is thick polypropylene (and crystal clear.) According to various vendors, the tape is either 3.4 or 3.5 mils thick, which is maybe twice as thick as your typical cheap packing tape. It does not rip (and you will need scissors or a sharp knife to trim it.)
• Even so, the tape still has some stretch, and will conform to irregularities.
• The adhesive will not yellow, harden or dry out. Once applied, the tape will stay adhered and flexible for years (unlike packing tape.)
• The tape doesn’t leave behind adhesive residue. It can be removed cleanly from many book covers (but not from others; more on that below.)
• It is available in a range of widths: 1.5″, 2″, 3″ and 4″. The 3″ width is good for protecting and repairing the spines of paperback books (which is how I use it most often.)

The bad:

• The tape is shiny, so sometimes it is more noticeable than a matte finish might be.
• The tape is thick, so it isn’t suitable for repairing torn pages or dust jackets. (For that, use a matte tissue or Tyvek tape.)
• The tape is not designed as a hinging tape (to repair torn or broken hinges.) That requires a specialized cloth tape.
• The tape is not archival. It is not meant for eternal and reversible book repairs, like what you’d want for old and valuable books. But it is ideal for repairing and reinforcing those paperbacks you carry around.
• The adhesive is strong, and while it will release cleanly, it might pull off the top layer of a cover or dustjacket too. A lot depends on whether the cover is laminated or glazed, worn, matte, etc.
• It is a little pricey. A 3″ x 15 yard roll might cost $13, while Scotch heavy-duty packing tape might cost $8 for a roll three times as long. On the other hand, for its intended purpose, it is hard to beat.

Tips on use:

If are wrapping the spine of a paperback book, it is best to cut a piece of tape that is a bit longer than necessary.

Hold it close to the book to see about how far the tape will come around to the front and back. Then line it up on the front cover, nice and square, then bring it down gently to touch the front cover (and only the front cover.) If you have it misaligned, you can usually pull the tape up and realign it (if the cover is worn, you might pull up some fibers.)

When it is on the cover nice and square, begin rubbing it down in the direction of the spine, so the tape wraps the corner tightly. Continue rubbing it down on the spine, moving in the direction of the back cover, so there are no bubbles. Go slowly. When the tape is covering the spine, work it down over the back cover. Then rub it down more firmly all over, so it is well adhered.

Then trim the excess flush with a snap knife or Exacto knife.

The next most common book repair I have done is fixing torn pages, and as I said, there is a special tape for that too. The same is true for the third most common repair, fixing the cover hinges of hardcover books. There are other brands of book tape, but I haven’t tried them. I do know the Scotch is reliable. For all the repairs that this tape isn’t suited to, there are tons of more specialized tools and materials out there. Here are some tips from librarians about more extensive repair.

-- Karl Chwe 07/1/19