Summer is a perfect time to curl up and read a good book.  There are so many summer reading lists out there.  From Oprah’s book list to your local library’s list, there are reads that are great for every taste.  Many people I know love to share their books, if they don’t take them out from their local library.  If you are someone who buys books, and loves to read all year long, you might also be someone who loves to share their books.  If so, a book sticker with you name on it is great to stick in the book so that hopefully it will make its way back to you at some point.

According to Webster’s, a book plate is “a piece of paper stuck on the inside front cover of a book that shows the name of the person who owns the book.”  But placement doesn’t really matter. I have one friend who is a voracious reader. She opts to order Address Labels that are long and thin and puts the stickers on the binder of books she lends out to friends.  This way, when it’s on someone’s book shelf, it’s easy for them to remember that the book belongs to her.  As much as she loves to share, she loves to get books returned too so she can pass them on to her next friend to read!

There really is no difference between a book sticker and a book plate.  Both are small stickers, identification labels, that have a name on them and sometimes wording like “From the Library of” and are often placed on the inside cover of a book.  Book stickers are great for adult books, for professional office books, for those with cookbook collections, and also for children’s books.  Children love stickers with their names on them.  In fact, many people love to gift a set of bookplates along with a new book. They are usually a very appreciated present and typically not too expensive.

A very nice gift for a teacher is a set of bookplates too.  Teachers usually have a lot of books in their classrooms and would love to have a book sticker in them, such as “From the Classroom of Mrs. Harris”.   Sometimes we see imprints like “Stolen from Catherine Smith” which is amusing, but also serves the purpose of identifying the owner.  Or, you might see “ex libris,” meaning “from the library of” before an imprinted name.  The only books that should not have bookplates adhered to them are collector books, as it diminishes the value, to have a sticker pasted to it.

Happy reading!

Best wishes,

Renee