Do we have to use the wrapper system to mail out the books?  I am just asking because we buy stamps in bulk and if I can just use my stamps to send the books I prefer to do it that way. Thanks for your help.

when you print out the wrapper, you have the option to print out a wrapper with the postage already printed on it or not.

The main answer to your question is no.

But I just wanted to let you know two things that you may not be aware of:

1)You can print the wrapper and not use the printed postage and delivery confirmation.  That's what I do 99% of the time.

2)If your book weighs more than 13 oz, it has to be mailed from the post office counter if you use stamps.  That's a postal rule.  If you use pre-printed postage, you can mail if from home or drop it in a blue box.  I just take all of mine in to get postage put on them at the PO because it's just down the street from me.

Anyway, those are just a couple of things to think about.  We have a postal forum here with several PO workers, and they might have some tips for you as well.

Welcome to PBS!  :)

If it's less than 13 oz, feel free to use your stamps and put it in outgoing mail or in a blue box. But if it's over 13 oz, you have to hand it to a postal worker if it uses stamps.

Also, some folks have reported that packages have been refused by carriers because they can't tell what weight it is. (If you have a kitchen scale, you can mark the weight on the package. That might help?)

So your answer is yes, you can print without using the PBS postage, but you'll need to go to the post office for any packages over 13 oz.

You can mail books in anything you want - use the PBS wapper or a bubble mailer or...whatever is sturdy enough to mail. 

ETA:  Just please please please use lots and lots of tape when you mail!  Its unbelievable what books go through in the mail, you need to make sure your book is wrapped securely.

Thanks so much everyone.  I have mailed lots of books in the past but since I am new here I didn't know if there was a rule of thumb regarding the wrappers to mail.