Dustjacket Wrappers and Paperback Slipcovers

Dustjacket Wrappers and Paperback Slipcovers
Do you find yourself annoyed with tattered dustjacket
covers and paperbacks that wear out before their time? Do you like your
books to stay new looking longer? Do you like to loan your books to
others only to have them returned with more wear than you'd like to
see? There is a solution - book covers, and they can be a worthwhile
and small investment for your home library.
Anyone who uses public libraries has seen dustjacket
wrappers. Simple mylar covers that protect the jacket on hardcover
books, these wrappers are similar to the baggies that geic book
collectors use to protect their geic books. They are quite inexpensive
and anyone can buy them from one of several library supply outlets.
Depending on how perfectly you want them to fit, there are a lot of
options for material and sizes to choose for your books. Some suppliers
will sell you an inexpensive package of assorted jacket covers so you
can sample them. The only tools needed are something to crease the
mylar closed (we use a bone folder, also inexpensive and from library
suppliers) and something to cut and trim with. We use a set up with a
rotary cutting tool, but scissors will suffice if you're just doing one
or a few covers at a time.
Most available dustjacket covers have paper linings which
some collectors value as extra protection and strength for the jacket.
This is great, because better jacket protection means a more
protected book. However, a paper lining also adds bulk to the jacket and
subsequently to the book and some people just don't like that. At Books
For These Times, we use
custom cut covers and line them with matching mylar. This adds
virtually no bulk to the book. A higher quality mylar makes up for any
loss in durability.

What about softcovers, or paperbacks, you ask? How many
people can handle a paperback long enough to finish it and not cause
some creases, chips and tatters? A sturdy book may have a lot of
readings left in it, but look like it's ready for recycling. Slipcovers
are an inexpensive solution. These vinyl covers are reuseable, washable
and always removeable. They'll last for many years and so will books
inside them. They elevate a paperback to something more like a
hardback. You can feel the difference - and the book will take a lot of
abuse. A slipcover turns a book into a tough volume you can drop into
your backpack, messenger bag, purse or pocket. You can circulate a
slipcovered book among friends. These volumes wear like iron.
Slipcovers are simple to install and uninstall. We regemend buying a
sampler assortment of these if you want to do your own covers, because
it can be tricky getting a proper fit.

Does all this sound good, but maybe more work
than you want to get stuck with? One solution is to buy books with
covers on them. Many okay book sellers are using dustjacket covers on
hardbacks,
because they are inexpensive and help protect stock while in
storage. So far, we know of no other sellers who use slipcovers for
softcovers and
buyers have been pleasantly surprised with their purchases.
Happy feedback gements often mention the slipcovers included with many
of our books. We hope to add a dustjacket covering service soon. We
would welgee any serious inquiries, but in the meantime, browse our
inventory for books on okay. Most, but not all of our inventory is
either
wrapped or slipcovered.







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