When I joined PBS, I thought that one of the strong suggestions was to wrap any books that were mailed, in plastic first!?  Only about 10% of the books I've received have been wrapped in plastic.  I send out all of my books wrapped in plastic so that the receiver gets the book (hopefully-barring PO rwap) in the same condition as it was sent out.  Fortunately I've not had any come to me damaged because of poor wrapping. 

some folks still use plastic but, No it is not a strong suggestion of PBS (it is a strong suggestion of some members) but, for myself I try to use vast quantities of plastic and I have little to recycle as far as plastic.

I wrap all of mine in plastic too. I use any scrap of leftover plastic that makes its way into my house.

Most books I receive are not wrapped in plastic................So far I've had no problems.

I always use plastic (plastic wrap or zip-loc bags)  before I wrap them in brown paper. I want them to get to their destination dry and undamaged.

I also use a LOT of tape on the corners and edges so they hopefully won't get ripped open.

I've been a member for several years Jennifer, and have definately seen an increase in the number of books arriving wrapped in plastic.  If it's important to you, feel free to use an RC.   Please Use Plastic was the first RC I received, and helped me to realize it's importance to other members who may have climate or PO services different than my own.

Also may depend on the genre you are requesting.  IME senders who have more invested in the books they send, often take more care in packaging (ie hardbacks & tradesize).

I haven't really noticed any difference in people wrapping in plastic vs. not. I don't get a whole lot wrapped that way, but couldn't give even a made up percentage.

I only wrap them in plastic in the winter. I figure if someone has weather problems any other time of the year, they'll have an RC for it.

Even in the winter, though, I don't receive many books wrapped in plastic. If I run out of plastic this winter, I doubt I'll bother with it either. I'm trying to cut back on my use of plastic anyway.

I got absolutely (and inappropriately) reamed by a receiver for not using plastic. 

Someone on this forum mentioned that they use inside-out bread bags, which I thought was very clever.  Now I save my bread bags for that purpose.  But if I don't have one, I don't sweat it. 

I wrap everything in plastic, goodness knows enough of it makes it's way into the house and would just get taken to recycling anyway!  Plus I still feel like my books are my babies when I send them out, and I want them to arrive in great shape so they can continue bringing others the happiness they brought me!

I've only had 3 items I've had to declare RWAP, and two of them was because of water damage en route.  The person had barely used any tape and no plastic, and it was in the middle of rainstorm central here in the midwest.  I got to the books as soon as they arrived, but they had been thoroughly drenched on the way here.  Still readable for me (though both turned an interesting shade of green because the dye of one of the covers bled all over the place!), but not postable.  I've thought about making a RC about using plastic, but haven't done it yet.  I'm home for the summer (I'm a teacher) so I can get to mail immediately, but once the school year starts it may be handy to have. 

I always wrap in plastic.  I receive a lot of books that aren't wrapped in plastic though.  As long as my books arrive in good condition, I'm fine with it. 

I always use plastic.  I have plenty of it here - might as well!

It doesn't really bother me if I get a book without it.  In all the books I've received, there was only 1 package that got water damaged.

I use bubblepack envelopes, making sure to seal the (closure) end securely so it's nearly impossible for any water to seep in.

I always wrap in plastic if I'm wrapping in the PBS wrapper or in brown paper. 

Everything I get is wrapped in plastic, but that's because I have an RC for it. :)

I've been a member for 5 years and received almost 600 books.  While I've seen several emotionally-charged discussions on plastic, I've only seen habits change slightly. I'd say 2 out 10 books I receive are wrapped in plastic. Maybe even less than that.  When I first started, it was probably 1 in 10.

I get about 25% wrapped in plastic...and I appreciate it. It's not winter, snow's not a problem...but we get a lot of rain (and it's hurricane season) - so anything that could help I'm grateful for. I don't have a RC for it though, I've only had a few damaged, and some happened elsewhere (package/book soaked but drying by the time it appeared here).

A good majority of the books I receive are wrapped in plastic. I have an RC for it during the winter, but I still see most of my books coming in plastic or a bubble wrapper even when I don't have it in my RC.  

I wrap in plastic 99% of the time.

Someone on this forum mentioned that they use inside-out bread bags, which I thought was very clever.  Now I save my bread bags for that purpose.

I am an advocate of using plastic to protect the books from the elements, however, I do not think it is a good idea to use bread bags... many people are allergic to wheat and just touching bread could cause an allergic reaction.

I usually use the plastic "sleeves" that the newspaper is delivered in.  It is a never ending supply that I put to good use.  I've had books wrapped in the plastic that paper towels and toilet paper are wrapped in and have done that myself when the book was too large for the empty newspaper sleeve.

I also use the bags my daily newspaper is delivered in.  The Sunday paper bags are large enough for most standard sized hardcovers and the daily bags hold paperbacks nicely.

my mailbox is far from waterproof so I appreciate the extra layer of protection. 

I will say, though, that one layer of Saran wrap under a brown paper wrapper sealed with Scotch tape is not adequate protection from the rigors of cross-country mailing. 

I would hope that if anyone has so severe of a wheat alergy that contact with a bread wrapper could trigger a reaction, they would post something in an RC to that effect.  Ditto for latex allergies.

I always wrap in plastic.  But if it bothers you to get books not wrapped in plastic, that is what RC's are for.  IF you are so allergic that touching something could make you ill, then you certainly should have an RC for that.  The sender can't be responsible for every possibility,.

A couple months ago...the most amazing swap for me. The book I sent from NE Iowa to Spring, TX...mailed at 4:30 pm ...arrived the next day. The receiver though was the most appreciative of the tight plastic wrap around her NEW, never read book about French Bulldogs...UNDER her mailbox in a huge puddle. It was in a bubble mailer with lots of tape at corners,book  was in great shape :)

I am a new member, but I always either wrap my books in plastic before wraping them to send, or use a water resistant mailer (like a bubble mailer or tyvek envelope).  I use plastic wrap if I don't have any plastic I can recycle (usually I have a grocery bag).  I always appreciate getting books wrapped in plastic, but as long as the book arrives in good shape I'm happy!

I always wrap my books in recycled plastic, mostly cut down shopping bags, but probably only 30% of the books received are in plastic. I have had books received wet that were not wrapped in plastic, mostly due to the fact that I have a walking mailman, so if it is raining or snowing they get wet. I do not have an RC for plastic, mostly because I am willing to take a chance on wet books rather than having book requests turned down because of an RC. I appreciate those who take the extra moment to wrap in plastic but as another member said as long as the book arrives in good shape I'm happy!

I stock up on Target brand ziploc baggies in large & small sizes when the boxes go on sale........usually $1.49 for a box of 30. Each size box has just the right size bag for a large hardcover or a regular paperback.

Then I pop them into either a recycled bubble wrap envelope or a manila envelope and tape well.

I don't bother wrapping in plastic.  Reason?   I have received two water damaged books.  Both senders didn't know their book was a problem when they mailed it.   Both were wrapped in plastic.  So I know it wasn't the postman's fault. 

Given this has happened to me twice I'm thinking wrapping in plastic causes a humidity problem.    

However I think that people that have walking mailmen or leaky mailboxes should put in their RC that we must wrap in plastic.