Protective Book Covers

[dwndrgn]

Originally Posted by Leto

All the others will be resold or given to friends or even - for some paperbacks - intentionally lost in the subway (as originally I got them).

Are you a Book Crosser? (www.bookcrossing.com)

[Leto]

Not a formal one. Got the habit well before discovering Internet.
Usually I leave a phone number on the book, some founders called and exchanged more books.

[rune]

I do look after my books, and love to see them look neat. But it's unavoidable when you read them alot, that the edges get a bit tatty.

I've placed my first order with the cover company, and will see what the wallets are like They are plastic so I'll still be able to look at the covers, I'm hoping they will look quite glossy with a wallet
And I'll be able to read them more without worrying about damaging the covers
Ordered 10, got many more to get!

[Teresa Edgerton]

I'm afraid that books have a hard time of it around here. Like the stuffed dragon my son inherited from his big sister and carried around for years, those we love best tend to get loved to death. I can see how plastic covers might spare some of them considerable wear and tear.

[nixie]

I picked up some books from the library sale and the covers were still on them.I took the ones of the books I bought for my mum and I'll use them on my books.

[LadyFel]

I'm not a fan of removable plastic covers, but I've been seriously thinking of buying that plastic protecting foil, you know, the sticky back paper that's also used just to reinforce the covers...It sticks to the entire original cover and is pretty hard to destroy...Of course, I couldn't use them on hardback books, but I don't really own too many, so my paperbacks are the important ones because we really do take them everywhere and now my son's decided to take an interest...

The removable ones do last, but they wear out just the same after a while and have to be replaced...

[rune]

Originally Posted by LadyFel

I'm not a fan of removable plastic covers, but I've been seriously thinking of buying that plastic protecting foil, you know, the sticky back paper that's also used just to reinforce the covers...It sticks to the entire original cover and is pretty hard to destroy...Of course, I couldn't use them on hardback books, but I don't really own too many, so my paperbacks are the important ones because we really do take them everywhere and now my son's decided to take an interest...

The removable ones do last, but they wear out just the same after a while and have to be replaced...

I'm quite pleased with the wallet covers I've bought and like the idea that they can be moved. Just on the off chance I decide to let a book go My friend was round last night, and noticed a book I'd covered on the table. She liked the look of them too

[Milena]

Wow - you guys REALLY care for your books. Actually if you have very old books plastic wraps aren't so good for them - you can get special acid-free protectors (google them - there are a few sites)
Still, for new books, especially heavy ones that get damaged (Johnathan Strange and Mr Norrell - how heavy is that?) they sound great.
Still, I quite like the 'used' look of some of my books, a lot of them were lucky 2nd hand bookshop finds and out of print now.

[rune]

Ive got a few of my books covered now, I'm quite impressed with the helpful service of the company that sell the covers too. I wasnt sure about the sizes and the guy give me good advice.

Sidetracking there What I wanted to share was that my black labrador seems to love the smell of the covers, and now I have a few done she wanders around my bookshelves sniffying my covered books

[Rosemary]

I don't use the plastic wallets but all of my books are covered. Many years ago, when my son was in Primary School I used to work in the school library. One of the many tasks was repairing and covering the books. They used a large roll of rather thick plastic which worked very well. I also bought some for my own books. It is about 4 ft wide and many, many feet long. You cut out the size required for each book. There has never been much wasted and so has been a very good buy. It hasn't harmed the books in any way.

It sound as if your labrador has good taste in books, Rune. Perhaps you should try reading to her, she might be a Fantasy Fan as well. I myself prefer the smell of leather binding, the only ones I haven't covered with the plastic.

[fallenstar]

all of my LOTR books are taped...I know it sounds weird, but it's one of the things I learned while I was in China. We had to make protective book covers for all of our textbooks using calendar papers. (you dont' actually go and buy them..the teachers had to check over and they don't like the decorated plastic covers that were the only ones avaliable in the stores). One of my classmates figured this way out by taping everything. It makes them light (calendar papers are quite heavy), and it's water proof. Of course once you tape them it's impossible to tear them out, but they still look nice, and they are protected from various damages including water...

[rune]

Originally Posted by Rosemary

I don't use the plastic wallets but all of my books are covered. Many years ago, when my son was in Primary School I used to work in the school library. One of the many tasks was repairing and covering the books. They used a large roll of rather thick plastic which worked very well. I also bought some for my own books. It is about 4 ft wide and many, many feet long. You cut out the size required for each book. There has never been much wasted and so has been a very good buy. It hasn't harmed the books in any way.

It sound as if your labrador has good taste in books, Rune. Perhaps you should try reading to her, she might be a Fantasy Fan as well. I myself prefer the smell of leather binding, the only ones I haven't covered with the plastic.

Well my lab takes after me

[kyektulu]

I dont use plastic wallets for anything other than my own books that I am writing! I probably should start to use them asd many of my well read books are getting a bit tatty round the edges....

xxxkyexxx

[rune]

Well I've got a quarter of my personal library covered now, they come the next day after order - so quick

Fortunately the new plastic smell wears off quick, so my black labrador only sniffs them when they are new.
Mind you my eldest dog - he's a collie cross, likes to lick paper. When I get post he's licking the envelopes whilst I'm trying to get them opened. And of course when I'm reading a book - especially new ones - he likes to sneak a lick on those too
You know I've the strangest pets

[Foxy]

Hi Rune

Could you PM the company website to me too?

Many thanks