i know this is an old and trite topic, but i can't find any of the old forums. how do you guys package books, especially a lot at a time, like for box-o-books?

in a box of appropriate size...

sometimes cereal boxes, ziploc boxes, whatever box i can get my hands on.

Cereal boxes are my favorite. I break them down completely and then refold them where the plain brown (or white) side is facing out. That way I don't have to worry about the box looking too "busy". They are really light, too, so they add virtually no weight to the package, so they don't increase your postage.

Whatever I can find that they'll fit well.  I've even wrapped them in saran wrap before to form a uniform shape (if possible) and then used thick wrapping paper.

It sometimes helps to make smaller stacks of tightly plastic wrapped little bricks of 2-3 books, then plastic wrap the two together, the wrap the whole brick with a brown paper bag, or kraft paper or such. Generally, more than 4-6 get an extra reinforcement of a cereal box or such. More than fits in something like that gets into an Amazon or studier box that I've received books or other things in.