Destructive book scanning refers to the process of physically cutting or damaging the book in order to scan its pages. This is typically done with older or rare books that are not available in digital format, but is not a preferred method of book scanning as it can cause irreparable damage to the book.

Non-destructive book scanning, on the other hand, is a process that allows the book to remain intact while still allowing its pages to be scanned. This is typically done using a digital camera or a specialized book scanner, which can capture high-resolution images of each page without causing any damage to the book. Non-destructive book scanning is the preferred method as it preserves the integrity of the book while still making its contents available in digital form.