Protective plastic coating for paperbacks?

March 30, 2006 12:45 PM

I've noticed that libraries often put a rigid, clear plastic coating on the covers of paperback books. The coating makes the book covers more sturdy and durable. What is that coating, and is it available to retail consumers?
posted by jayder to Shopping (13 answers total)

Looks like Gaylord carries something like this.
posted by IshmaelGraves at 12:50 PM on March 30, 2006

I worked at my high school's library and one of my jobs was to put protective covers on new books - as I remember, the covers came in a few standard sizes with adhesive on the back, so you picked the right size, trimmed it down a little if you wanted to be a perfectionist, and then pressed it onto the books. If memory serves, the covers felt like the same kind of clear vinyl used binders to hold papers on the front and back covers. This site looks like it sells something really close to what we used in our library, if not an identical cover, plus how-to and a little guide to what sort of covers you might want for your personal library. One little caveat about vinyl covers - I've noticed that over time, the covers tend to "fog" and make it a little harder to read the cover. I don't know if that's a property of the vinyl, or just a symptom of wear and tear from excessive use and abuse in a library.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 12:58 PM on March 30, 2006

Or, you could go for Gaylord's rival, Demco.

I dislike the aesthetics of laminate covers, but they do work!
posted by robocop is bleeding at 12:59 PM on March 30, 2006

This is the perfect question for me as I manufacture this very product, for books. It's a self adhesive 250 micron PVC, and a sheet is placed on the back and the front of the book, usually with a strip of tape down the spine to protect it.

Where do you live?
posted by tomble at 1:00 PM on March 30, 2006

For a while Barnes & Noble sold these, as well as the traditional wrap-around covers for dust jackets, in their Gifts for Readers section, but then they stopped and I have been upset ever since. Now I have to order from Brodart which is more annoying (not Brodart's fault... it's just that having to mail order does not suit my instant gratification shopping needs).

Anyway, for books that are going to get a lot of handling but aren't collectible, those laminate covers are great. I think this is the one I've ordered from Brodart in the past.
posted by litlnemo at 1:07 PM on March 30, 2006

Oh, and tomble, if you make a product like this I would be interested in trying it as well. I need to buy some more laminate soon any way (and some of the other covers too). E-mail me if you like.
posted by litlnemo at 1:08 PM on March 30, 2006

I order these from Brodart all the time.
posted by jdroth at 1:11 PM on March 30, 2006

Response by poster: Great suggestions---thanks for all of them.

I need this coating for a thick paperback reference book I carry around with me quite a bit. The material used for the cover tends to curl, get bent, etc., and I think a thick laminate would help the book to lay flat and protect the cover from getting so frayed and bent.

tomble, I am interested in your product, you can find my e-mail in my profile.
posted by jayder at 3:14 PM on March 30, 2006

I volunteered in a library and we just used transparent contact paper from any drug store. I also use it to laminate various paper or cardboard membership cards.
posted by mmw at 5:00 PM on March 30, 2006

I use Contact brand clear shelf paper. I buy it at the grocery store.
posted by neuron at 5:33 PM on March 30, 2006

I'm interested too, but tomble is in .au 8-(
posted by mrbill at 6:05 PM on March 30, 2006

Yeah, I'm far far away from the majority of ask.me readers, sadly.

I make this and other products - normally I wouldn't link to my own company here but since other companies have been linked to and it's directly applicable I think it should be okay (delete this if it's not o.k.).

Equivalent products should surely be available in the US and other places. It will either be called 250 micron, or 10 mil self adhesive PVC. It's like a super thick version of the regular self adhesive film you'd cover paperbacks with.

It comes in pre cut sheets, as on the roll it takes on a nasty curl.

Anyone who's trying to find this product, drop me a line!
posted by tomble at 6:32 PM on March 30, 2006

I've used contact paper at home to hold together the trade paperback of Ulysses that I hauled around in my backpack for a month. It works about the same.
posted by dagnyscott at 6:20 AM on March 31, 2006