That AC post was me. That's what you get for posting at 1:30 am. Is this like the like drunk texting? Probably. "Mr. Z"

If your workers are a-holes, chauvinists or otherwise would do this -- it sounds like you need a new crew. There are KAJILLIONS of good-natured, smart, talented, hard-working men and women that are more than capable. If I were in your shoes, I would fire anyone that I would even suspect before the fact that would be have even a remote chance of a problem with this. This is 2012, not 1962.

Or, Goto a print shop (or work for one, like me!). Cut the books with a big Guillotine clamp cutter (Super clean edges better than the original cut), then throw it through a modern copier with a RADF (Reversing Automatic Document Feeder) that automagically duplex scans in order straight to PDF. this takes about 90 seconds of human intervention if the book isn't too big (You'll probably have to put the book in the feeder in several lifts). I've done this for a class that had a HUGE hardback that we only used a couple chapters from (and I bought a funky used book for much cheaper). Also, if you want the book back in it's semi-original state, just re-bind it. Rough-cut edges may work better for long-term, but padding the books works good enough for the 2 times you'll actually pull out the original from the library. PLUS, you can put cool custom spines on your books (barcoded, for sure). -Z

I have an old laptop that I have spilled a half of a stout onto my wife's dell laptop (bad idea all around). The computer still works (almost) but the keyboard is all messed up (and thus I cannot log in, as it constantly types characters).

What is the best way to fix/clean this? Should I fight fire with fire and use some alcohol (methanol? ethanol? isopropanol? denatured? proof?)?
-Z