Covering or otherwise protecting big paperback books

[happypamama]

I generally prefer books in hardback, but sometimes that's not possible.  I've got, for example, brand new copies of Latin Alive and AOPS books that I want to keep decent for multiple children.  Is there a good book cover or some other novel way to protect these books?  (Or are the brown paper bags like we used to use in school about all there are?)

[wapiti]

I used brown paper bags for a couple of my AoPS books.  Others I just covered with quite a bit of clear packing tape as they began to wear out at the corners and seams with the occasional tear in the cover LOL.

[Loesje22000]

'Brown paper' is not always brown here ;) we have them in all themes and colors... (It is called kaftpapier here)

But to use AoPS with multiple children I would glue some pizza or cornflakes board carton inside the front and back of the book and then use some bookfoil. (Transparant foil with glue inside like tape but big enough to cover a whole book in once, the type Libraries use too...)

[Momto6inIN]

I use clear laminated shelf paper - sometimes called contact paper - on ab.sol.ute.ly everything. :)

[Suzanne in ABQ]

You can get rolls of adhesive laminate at office supply stores.  It's crystal clear, and one roll would do many, many books.

[Ellie]

I generally prefer books in hardback, but sometimes that's not possible.  I've got, for example, brand new copies of Latin Alive and AOPS books that I want to keep decent for multiple children.  Is there a good book cover or some other novel way to protect these books?  (Or are the brown paper bags like we used to use in school about all there are?)

 

Clear Contac paper.

 

Also, if it's a teacher's book, i take it to Kinko's/FedEx and have the spine cut off, then the book drilled for three holes, and I put the whole thing in a three-ring notebook.

[Tanaqui]

I, too, am a fan of contact paper.

[Lanny]

I'm not sure how you can do this, with existing books, but I bought a Used paperback novel for DD for her English course and it turned out to be a library edition that came from the Fargo ND Public Library.  The Front and Back Covers are much thicker than in a normal paperback. Plastic.  If, somehow, you could cover the existing Covers (front and Back) with some kind of plastic sheeting, that would help them.  

[Tanaqui]

Yeah, Lanny, that'd be Contact paper or, possibly, special acid-free archival tape. If you intend your books to last a lifetime or more, it may be worth it to get the products the professionals use. If you're covering workbooks, seriously, the cheap stuff is just fine.

[happypamama]

Thanks, everyone! Why did I not think of clear contact paper? I like Ellie's suggestion to get the teacher books cut for binders too. I have put some things through my ProClick as well, but some of the books are too big for that.

[daijobu]

No advice, but you are wise to think of this.  With only 2 kids, my AoPS books get pretty worn and torn.  I wish I had thought of this.  

[happypamama]

So I was in our library today and asked one of the librarians what they use.  They wrote down the website and model number for this, and they said it works really well on paperbacks: http://www.thelibrarystore.com/product/ad30-0849/s So I think I will get some.  They said it works out to about $2 a book, which doesn't seem too terrible to me, considering how much the AOPS and other books are.

 

Now, just the spines and edges, or the whole front and back?  Hmm.  I'll have to think about that.  But thank you all for the suggestions!