I got a book today that was wrapped in brown paper and scotch tape *sigh*

One end had clearly been resealed with packing tape, the tape covers the postage printed at the PO. The front of the package has the "media mail subject to inspection" stamp on it. The entire package was then shrinkwrapped, which seemed pretty crazy, I've never seen USPS do that before. There was not a note saying the package had been inspected. There are no obvious signs that the package was damaged at the taped over end, it looks like they easily could have peeled off the scotch tape, peeked inside, then resealed with packing tape. The package came from Florida (not Wisconsin). 

If it was damaged, I would like to let the sender know, but I am leaning toward it being inspected. 

What do you think?

According to Postal rules, if it is inspected, it should have been stamped "Opened and Inspected by the USPS" and a note placed inside.  But I have gotten a few w/o the inside note.  I cannot imagine the P.O. shrinkwrapping a package but they may have.  When I worked for them, we did not have a shrink wrap machine.  And we used heavy mailer's tape to reseal but who is to say where it was opened.  A contract station like at a store may use scotch tape but the P.O. does not allow it to mail in.  The problem is that contract station employees do not get trained by the P.O.  Perhaps someone thought it best to rewrap the parcel due to the scotch tape?  I really wish some senders would take a little more care in mailing.  I have seen some really creative mailers and some that I wondered how anybody could think that a parcel mailed that way would make it, especially with the new machines.

I have never seen anything shrinkwrapped before either, but it was outside of the postage printed at the post office counter, so it must have been USPS at some point. 

I received a shrink wrapped book, it was under the outer wrapper and had been done by the sender at work. 

Have heard of the outer shrink wrap, I'm thinking a few postal sorting centers have them to contain damaged packages.  If the package was originally sealed with scotch tape, then arrived with something over counter postage, I would assume inadequate wrapping by sender and RWAP.  One of the few PBS wrapping guidelines specifically states that scotch tape is NOT adequate and members should use packing tape.

I see that you live in Washington state.  The parcel may have arrived opened and been shrink wrapped in Washington as it is a major hub for media mail.  I would definitely let the sender know that scotch tape is NOT allowed by the P.O. and that they subsequently shrink wrapped it.  And if it was damaged because of the wrap, let them know that also.  Tell them they have to use packing tape and strong enough packaging material otherwise they may get a lot of RWAPs.  I do it in a nice way and 99% have been okay with my wording and advice.  I mention that I used to work for the P.O. which I did for over 20 years and the new machinery is extremely hard on parcels. Hope this helps!  It can be frustrating at times, I know.

I live in Wisconsin and so many of the books I've received lately have been inspected - they have all been stamped/labelled on the outside saying "Opened and Inspected, OK to Mail" or something like that.   And they have been re-wrapped well.  (But not shrink wrapped).