I printed a label to send one of my books today, and though instructions say the book is to be covered completely by the wrapper the book is too large for this to work. What do I do? Would a plain piece of paper or several taped together be sufficient, provided the label was visible on the front? Also, how are to attach said label without it touching the book? I'm so confused!!!

...and also how many postage stamps would be proper postage for a 13.9 ounce book? I'm a totally newbie at this; does it show? Thanks in advance for any and all help, and Mrs. Austin, your book will be in the mail before Saturday!

You can wrap the book in whatever you want to mail it in.  Lots of paper, a manila envelope, a cardboard box, etc.  I suggest that however you wrap the book, you use plenty of tape.  (But don't tape to the book.)

A 13.9 ounce book would be mailed media rate as 1 pound.  I don't have the price memorized, but it is in the help center.

Yes, you can cover the rest of the book with more paper.

If the book is that large, I'd suggest more substantial paper than typical printer paper - brown parcel paper, or paper grocery bags, or an envelope mailer.

Then just tape the PBS page onto that.

I never use the label to wrap a book.  Not enough protection.  Use a brown shopping bag, or recycle a bubble envelope from a book you receive.  And use lots of tape!

Wrap it in brown paper or other paper and either (1) cut the address from the original wrapper and tape to the front or (2) re-print the label and choose the one-page format.

If the book is over 13 ounces, you'll need to take it to the post office if you use stamps. New postal regulations require that stamped mail over 13 oz be dropped off by hand to a postal worker.

Or you can use PBS postage to pay for the postage (surcharges required) or you can use PayPal postage. PBS postage guarantees your credit. PayPal postage does not.

You are not required to use the PBS wrapper. Brown paper wrapping with the label taped on top is sufficient. Make sure you use good strong packing tape, however.

I reuse padded envelopes and those sturdy plastic envelopes. As far as calculating postage, there should be in the HELP CENTER, under mailing books, a media mail postage chart.

You should re-read the procedures in the HELP CENTER for specifics.

You need to make sure you select "I can mail book by__" then pick the last possible date to mail. You can PM the requestor (by clicking the PM button in the request window) to let her know the book will be on its way. There is no guarantee she will ever see this message.

You can use additional printer paper to wrap the book, although I would not advise it. Maybe look for some brown, strong craft paper and hand write the address on the paper? Brown grocery bags are good, too. I normally buy packs of bubble mailers to send out my books, maybe that could be a suggestion?

As for the postage, normal Media Mail is $2.23 for anything under 13 ounces. Anything over is $2.58. You should be able to figure out how much the postage is for the book you're sending by looking at the wrapper, though. What does the wrapper say/reccommend?

Oh, but don't use the USPS Priority Mail envelopes! You cannot send books via Media Mail using them. The recipient will receive the book postage due for the priority mail amount.

Thanks guys! The book is now swathed in a paper grocerybag and tons of packing tape. now to the post office! Thank you so much to all the helpful wonderful people who replied!!!

I recommend also reading the red thread at the top of this forum called Tips for new members.  Welcome to PBS !

That's $2.23 for 16 ounces actually - you're confusing it with the stamped package limit.

I have an opinion about these statements:

more substantial paper than typical printer paper - brown parcel paper, or paper grocery bags

Brown paper wrapping with the label taped on top is sufficient.

Brown grocery bags are good, too.

I just want to comment that every single package I have received wrapped in brown paper - every single one - has arrived ripped open at the edges (not the seams). No package that I have received wrapped in 2 sheets of printer paper and correctly taped with shipping tape has ever arrived to me ripped at the seams, not ever. But I only use the 2-sheets of printer paper for MMPB size.

Brown paper is not sufficient wrapping, in my opinion, unless every EDGE  - not just seam -  is taped with shipping tape because it is NOT as sturdy even as printer paper.

I sometimes recycle manila envelopes (not folders) by cutting them open and using them like wrapping paper for larger books when I don't have a bubble wrapper. I also tape every edge and every seam. I find that kind of paper more substantial than kraft paper/brown paper bags. IMHO. YMMV.

FWIW, I've sent 100+ books wrapped in brown grocery bags. Never had a complaint. Trader Joe bags seem a bit sturdier than Ralph's bags, though.

Never had a problem sending or receiving books using 2 sheets of printing paper. They're perfect for mass-market pbs.

how many postage stamps would be proper postage for a 13.9 ounce book?

Other folks have answered this particular question, but for future reference: if you know the package weight, you can always calculate the necessary postage at the USPS' website.

Go to usps.com and select "Calculate Postage" at the top of the screen. Choose "Domestic Postage" on the next page. (Once the Domestic Postage Calculator page has loaded, you might want to bookmark it.) If you're mailing a book, select "package." Enter the weight below. I don't think the zip codes you enter actually make a difference within the U.S., but someone may correct me on that (is it different for Hawaii & Alaska?). I always ignore the "shipping date" section. Submit your entry. For a 13.9 ounce book, Media Mail is $2.23, Parcel Post $3.67, a priority mail flat-rate envelope or small box $4.90, and so on. (Prices, of course, subject to change. There's an increase coming soon.)

Don't use stamps if the book weights over 13 oz.  You will need to use either printed postage, an actual person at the PO, or purchase a single stamp from the automatic machine at the PO.  (Select buy a stamp option rather than mail a package.)  This gets into the security measures that the PO requires a way to track all enevelopes that weight over 13 oz.  They want an electronic method to trace the package to the sender. 

Don't use stamps if the book weights over 13 oz.

You will have to take your package to the counter at the post office, but you can still use stamps. I do this all the time. I stamp my package and give it to the folks at the counter. At my local post office, they don't even make me wait in line if it's already stamped.

 if the book is small enough to fit in the PBS wrapper I do wrap in that and no one has told me that there has been a problem.  I wrap in plastic and then the wrapper and make sure to seal the edges well with packing tape.

I have received books wrapped this way and haven't had any problems yet.  my problems (minor) have been with envelopes and several books and it not being wrapped tightly around the books so it catches.

I wrap my books in this heavy brown paper I got, after I wrap a plastic protective cover around them. Sometimes I even use bubble wrappers, it just depends what I have on hand, and if I have the time.

Brown paper is definitely not all the same.  Some is so thin that it just about tears when you look at it.  On the the other hand, I had an extra yard bag from Home Depot.  I wrapped lots of books in that.  It had two layers, so it was like two huge bags, and it was super sturdy.

The rolls of brown paper that are made for wrapping packages are stonger than recycled paper grocery bags.  But recycled grocery bags are fine too, if enough packing tape is used. 

I read through all of the replies and didn't notice this sugestion.

Use legal paper... 8 1/2 x 14. My printer gives the option of printing on legal paper and I've found that all but a very few books that are too large for regular paper will be totally covered if I use legal paper. It works for me since I have a ream of legal paper that I use when needed. The many of other suggestions are just as practical depending on what you have available.