Although I use bubble padded mailing envelopes now (I buy them by the carton on Ebay and they're VERY reasonable) what I used to do is save money and recycle at the same time by using plastic grocery bags. I'd cut them to fit the book, wrap it in that plastic wrap and then the PBS wrapper. Doesn't cost an extra penny and your book always arrives in good condition!

Happy Hanukah to you too! Rarely see that anywhere!

I buy a roll of brown postal wrap for my books.  I can get that at the dollar store and a roll goes a long way and is perfect for paperbacks.  Same with a roll of plastic cling wrap.  I save bubble mailers for hardbacks when I have one, which is rarely.

I've been trying to use a canvas bag for my shopping and I always get paper bags at the grocery store because we reuse those.

I save all the large envelopes and packaging and reuse them.  Sometimes I cut them apart, turn to plain side and reuse.  I also use brown paper bags.  You cut them to make a flat piece of paper and use as wrapping paper after you wrap the books in plastic bags.  Save all your plastic wrappings  that seem to come on everything and reuse for packaging.

I use boxes that freebies come in. I get a lot of diaper samples and the box is perfect for one paperback. If it's a tad too big, I stuff a plastic bag in the bottom, always wrap in plastic and then wrap the box.

  My MIL has about 8 years of magazines that she has hoarded and is finally getting rid of. She gives me and SIL tons and what I do is go through the mags and rip out any pages that catch my eye. The pages  reflects the season or even the book inside.   I sent a culinary mystery in a page with a huge chocolate cake on it. The receiver loved it! 

  I also use wrapping paper as long as it's not too thin, and any other envelopes/bags/boxes I receive.   I try to recycle as much as I can and it saves so much money!

Sometimes I can also get book covers at the Dollar store for 2 for $1 and it will cover up to 12 books!  There are lots of great ways to reuse, recycle and save our hard earned money :)

Another great wrapping for books is a calendar page. Take the old calendar from last year and it will wrap 12 or more books. The paper is heavy and a normal sized wall calendar page fits a pb book perfectly!

go to your local newpaper.  They have heavy paper they no longer use.

Thanks for all this great info.  Learned alot of new ideas.  Thanks  Stormyinalabama

Since PBS advises us not to use saran/glad wrap, what kind of plastic do you use and where do you find it?  Baggies can get expensive.

I welcome any suggestions.  Thanks.

For plastic wrapping I use clean. plastic grocery bags, the plastic bags from new shirts, any over plastic covers you get from packaging.  Start noticing how many things are wrapped in plastic and you can get quite a stash.

I recycle all letter or legal paper that is blank on one side and use it to print out my PBS address and info pages.  Lots of junk mail that comes is blank on one side, so I find any way I can to reuse it. I'd love to be recyycling more of my books, but no bites lately.  Check out my bookshelf - I'm open to deals.

I  often use the plastic  bag the newspaper comes in.  Works great especially for paperbacks.  .  Also I use the plastic bags we get our meds that are mailed to us in.   With these I try to wrap the books so the plastic envelope or bag can be used again for books. 

"Since PBS advises us not to use saran/glad wrap"

I believe what they advise us not to use is press and seal wrap which is a different thing.  

From the help section:  Consider using an inner layer of plastic

• You can use Saran Wrap, or clean plastic grocery bags, or any kind of clean plastic material
• please do not use "Press and Seal". This product contains some type of glue that sticks to the books.

Are you saying that PBS recommends Saran Wrap?    It's not the same as "press and seal"??

My brother is retired and travels full time in an RV.  He's a member of the American Automobile Association (AAA) and is always getting updated road maps from them.  He passes his old ones on to me which I sometimes use to wrap books in.

Press 'n' Seal wrap is a special type of plastic wrap, that seals not just the edges, but solidly across the whole item, so it sticks to the bookcover. Saran brand makes a few different types of wrap, including different colors. These are ok, as long as they are not the Press 'n' Seal type.

I save brown paper grocery bags when I get them, which is not often. I wrap the book in a plastic grocery bag, then in the brown paper bag. You can usually wrap several books with one bag.

I buy my clear packing tape at the dollar store.

I have found that if you get a priority mailing envelope for free at the postoffice and turn it inside out it works great! It is coated so you don't have to worry about water. I must admit that I got this idea from a package that I received with books in it.

Katrina, I know you were sent books that way but if the PO decides to inspect your package and opens it they will charge the receiver the priority mail price for using a priority envelope. (even turned inside out).  So please don't use those.

I have seen the caution re: not to use priority mail boxes, etc even when turned inside out and understand the concern.  How about REUSING already posted materials??  I have shipped books w/ USP, FedEx and USPS plastic mailer envelope material cut and turned inside out and felt it was a great way to recycle vs filling the land fills... anyone aware of a prohibition on reuse??

The rough, brown paper from paper bags or kraft paper is NOT acceptable for wrapping books.  It is very easily abraded and nearly always rips.  I've received many books over the years and brown paper is the worst by far.  For one book, plain white printer paper (TWO sheets) works very well - I've never had a ripped package.  Also good is any mailing envelope whether it's re-used or not.  The difference is that the paper is smooth, rather than rough.  The rough paper seems to tear open at the slightest abrasion.  I've also used most of the suggestions listed above, although I nearly always wrap the books first in either plastic grocery bags or some other plastic.   Just please, no rough, brown paper. 

I just now received two books (which had been wrapped in Saran Wrap first) which were wrapped in brown paper and the package was entirely torn open, right through the Saran to the books.  Saran is very thin and, while it might prevent moisture, it will not protect against abrasion.

Char,

I was not aware of the restiction about using envelopes turned inside out - thanks for telling me.

I have also used newspaper, and the funnies (these were definitely wrapped in plastic first) using the comics is cute.

I have also used wrapping paper at Christmastime.

Defintiely reuse envelopes.

Just this morning I used some packaging that my daughter had received a giant box of chocolate in from my friend in England. It was enough paper to wrap 4 books!

I like the idea in the other thread of using folders. Also I have received books in a file folder,

I hear wallpaper samples work well.

 I like the idea of using maps, but I don't have access to any...

The accounting department at work just gave me an entire shopping bag full of manila envelopes!!! woo hoo!!!