Although sticky notes seem like they should have been thought up in some eureka moment, the truth is that the temporary adhesive that makes sticky notes work was invented years before anyone could find a use for it. A 3M scientist named Spencer Silver came up with what was basically a bad glue—one that was incapable of full adhesion—in 1967. The company then coated a piece of board in the stuff and marketed it as a kind of fly trap for notes (i.e., you could smack your regular paper to it). Eventually, another 3M employee had an Aha! moment when trying to keep his bookmarks in place, and the now indispensable Post-it sticky note was born. Although uniquely useful, there are a number of important considerations when choosing sticky notes, including quality, environmental impact, and whether or not you’ll be using them on valuable books or papers. Read our selections below to find our top choices and alternatives.
