Ok, so what does everyone use as far as plastic for wrapping the books in?  Can you buy rolls of it?  Suggestions. Thanks!

The cheapest thing is probably regular old plastic wrap.  Just don't get the press and seal kind because it leaves goo on the books.  I use plastic bags too. 

I use the narrow plastic bags my newspaper is delivered in.  It's a free source and I am recycling them.

Awesome!  Thanks ladies.  I wasn't sure what kind of plastic was expected so I wanted to ask and make sure.  I shipped my first 2 books this week, one with plastic, one without (I'm hoping the one without makes it ok.).

Thanks for the reply!

I also love newspaper bags, but I use anything.  Those plastic air filled bags that some packages are packed with work great when deflated.  One dry cleaning plastic bag wraps a ton of books.  I also like to use plastic grocery bags that I have around.

I just emptied a thick plastic bag of dum dums.  I almost threw it away and it dawned on me -- Plastic wrap for a PBS book!    It will probably make someone smile too.  Maybe I should include a dum dum?

ETA:  No, I dont think I can include a dum dum because that would illegitimatize my media mail postage.   Ah well.

Is illegitimatize a word?

I go to the dollar store and buy the plastic wrap there.  You get 150 square feet of plastic wrap for a dollar- it lasts a long time!  I also sometimes use plastic grocery bags or newspaper bags if I am low on plastic wrap or if I mail from work and don't have any.  One thing about the cheap platsic wrap though- it doesn't cling very well, so I make sure to tape it (to itself of course, not the book) in order to seal it.  You never know what can happen.  I received a book once that was damaged by the PO- one corner was literally soaked in black ink, and it had seeped through the outer packaging.  Although the book was wrapped in a layer of plastic wrap, it was not taped or otherwise sealed, and some of the ink got under the plastic wrap and soaked the corner of the book.  I always make sure to tape the plastic wrapping really well so that this doesn't happen.

I was wondering about using plastic grocery bags...I always have a ton of those around! Yay!

Lol...not sure if that is a word or not but if you're like me you make up your own words to use anyway! =]

I hadn't thought about cellophane wrap....very cool idea too!  Thanks guys, ya'll are a big help.

::sigh:: Wish I would hurry and get my first 2 books. lol

I've never bought any plastic - I just recycle bags, packaging, dry cleaner bags, etc.

I bought a box of Wal-mart brand plastic wrap (the bigger sized box) not long after I joined (a little over a year ago) and still haven't run out.  I've mailed nearly 200 books, or maybe a little more.  I have recycled some plastic wrap that I get books in and occasionally if I'm mailing in an envelope instead of wrapping in the paper I'll use wal-mart or Kroger bags.  But mostly I've used that same box of plastic wrap I originally bought.  It's probably still good for 50 more books or so.

I get food storage bags that are awesome, but only use those when I'm low on other things I recycle with:  bread wrappers (inside out so no crumbs), newspaper bags, today I got 2 good size plastic bags that magazines came in...  plastic grocery bags work too.  Plus if I get a book in plastic, I'll reuse it!

If you open your mail and everything else that comes into your home with an eye towards what can be recycled to wrap books in, you will be amazed at how much stuff you put in the landfill every week. Cellophane, bags that bras come in, plastic grocery bags, plastic bags from my Avon lady leaving my catalogs on my porch, Tyvek bags that protect electronics, air pillow that come in shipping boxes, plastic coated envelopes that junk mail comes in, the larger waxy coated envelopes the PO gives you when you buy stamps, leftover cellophane goodie bags from children's parties. I have even cut up a new, dollar store shower curtain liner that was ugly as sin and used chunks of that until it was gone.

I open my mail over a basket I keep near my desk, any material that I may be able to use to wrap a book goes into that basket. When a book is ordered, I go to the basket, find some plastic for an inner liner and then something to use for the outer wrapper, add some scissors and packing tape and I am good to go.

It is good for the environment, good for my pocket book and good for me to not have to keep carrying all that trash to the dumpster at the other end of my parking lot.  

Nice list Cheryl!  Although not sure the waxy envelope PO uses for stamps is water resistant?  but I picked up some new ideas, thanks :-)

I use the plastic bag my newspaper comes in. I also get huge plastic bags from work that stacks of paper plates come in. I also use plastic grocery sacks....ans anything else that comes in plastic gets saved........not everything, but lots of it.