# What is the difference between a library bound book and a normal hardcover?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-library-bound-book-and-a-normal-hardcover/168551>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 14, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-library-bound-book-and-a-normal-hardcover/168551 "2003-04-14T03:42:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DrewG27](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DrewG27](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrewG27)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-library-bound-book-and-a-normal-hardcover/168551/1 "2003-04-14T03:42:49Z")

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It sure is a mystery! In searching for copies of _Catch-22_ on [barnesandnoble.com](http://barnesandnoble.com), I discovered that there were paperback, hardcover, and the enigmatic _library bound_ editions. What is a library bound edition, exactly? I couldn’t tell you. My guess would be some special binding that holds the book together longer, but it’s the same price as the normal hardcover, which doesn’t make sense. Then again, a lot of things don’t make sense.  
So, someone please enlighten me, or I might go crazy.

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**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-library-bound-book-and-a-normal-hardcover/168551/2 "2003-04-14T04:19:20Z")

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A library-bound edition doesn’t have a removable dust jacket like “normal” hardcovers. Instead, the title and cover art are printed directly on the cover of the book, and it is hard and shiny, like your text books in school were.

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**Author:** ![brianmelendez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@brianmelendez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianmelendez)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-library-bound-book-and-a-normal-hardcover/168551/3 "2003-04-14T10:54:21Z")

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[Book Binding Descriptions](http://www.demcomedia.com/webprd_media/hlp_text/hlp_bok_binding.htm)

[Trade Cloth vs. Hardback](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=171556)

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**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-library-bound-book-and-a-normal-hardcover/168551/4 "2003-04-14T13:54:04Z")

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Library binding, in addition to having no dust jacket as mentioned, doesn’t always have any cover art at all. Sometimes it is just bound in a sort of heavy duty vinyl or leather-like substance, and it is generally of a very unattractive color (like orange or brown or drab grey) presumably to discourage thievery.