I am new here and I read somewhere about wrapping books in plastic.  Are we suppose to do this?  The books that I have mailed so far have been put in those bubble envelopes.  Is that ok?  Should I still be wrapping in plastic?

It isn't a requirement of the site (occasionally you will see it as a member's personal conditions), but many members appreciate it (for the reasons given by Malina above).

I never thought about the raining or the spinklers.  I should start doing that then.  I will on the next one that I mail out.  Thanks!

Hi there, welcome to PBS!  Wrapping in plastic is a kind thing to do, but isn't one of the rules.  Usually people do it to keep rain (or whatever else the package might come in contact with on its travels) off the book.  I don't know if bubble mailers are waterproof, but it's a good question.  I live in the desert and except for our occasional (but brief) torrential rains, I don't have much incoming experience with that sort of envelope getting wet.  Maybe someone else out there knows.  If they aren't waterproof, or not waterproof enough, and you want to wrap in plastic before using the envelope, you can use plastic wrap, plastic grocery bags, plastic newspaper bags etc.  The one thing you shouldn't use is Glad Press-N-Seal.  It can stick to the book covers and leave a residue that folks say is almost impossible to remove.  I almost always do wrap in plastic, because it's so easy to do, and can keep a book from being ruined.

Im now wrapping in plastic because one of my WL books got pretty wet and now I get it. I have put in a temporary "request" for plastic wrap just until our monsoon season is over at the end of August.

Way to go-------------to everyone who wraps in plastic first!!!

I've seen too many wrappers, bubble envelopes, tyvek envelopes and the like come through with holes in, or get mulilated by the postal machines.   If this happens, the book can get wet, especially in a downpour, or dropped by the mailman, which happened to me once!  So, the best and kindest thing to do is to first wrap in plastic!  Everyone who gets the book will thank you.

I always wrap in plastic.  of all my books I have received since I joined in May one one was in plastic and I really really appreciated it.  I just got book this week in a bubble wrapper and had a problem.  It was sealed just slightly crooked and the glue stuck to the top of the book.  It was almost impossible to get off.  Thankfully it did not tear any of the pages but I now have a sticky brownish stain at the top of 50 or so pages.  I think the 90's weather probably didn't help.  If it had been wrapped in plastic, no worries.

I actually put ht PBS wrapped with the info, address, and DC # in the cheap plastic baggie from $Tree.  So hopefully should my something happen to the ultra taped outside wrapper, can hopefully get to where it is going. I know people really appreciate it in plastic.  I get comments about putting the books in baggies just about every time.

HTH!!

I think the issue with bubble mailers is that they could get damaged and then the water or whatever could get in.  I just received a book that was in a guaranteed waterproof bubble mailer.  It didn't have the brown wrapping, it was made of a kind of slick gray material.  I'd never seen one before.  But I do now always wrap books in plastic.

Ever since I lost a whole mailboxful of unwrapped books during a storm (it was so windy that water managed to find its way into the box), I have wrapped my books in plastic.

I know people swear by the tyvek envelopes - I think those are what you are talking about Joy - but I've NEVER gotten one that didn't have holes punched in it by PO machines.  One had a 2 inch tear near the center.  They certainly weren't waterproof by the time they got to me.   I think ONE of the problems are that the books are so loose in those envelopes.  There is a lot of material flopping around for the PO machines to grab and tear.   If I were using them, I'd tape around them so that they "hugged" the book tightly. 

I don't use plastic wrap.  I use the tyvek envelopes.  I think the tyvek is very durable and waterproof enough to get a book through the mail without damage.  I stick the book in the envelope then "fold" the extra around the book, seal it, then tape the "label" to the front making sure to fold over the sides of the envelope so the book isn't loose in the wrapper.  I haven't had a single person PM me that the package arrived damaged (water or otherwise) and I have mailed out over 500 books.  

Although I do see how wrapping in plastic can be beneficial I must admit that I cringe a little every time I get a book wrapped in plastic wrap.   It might be just me but I find it a pain in the neck to get off the books sometimes.

I do agree with Cozette that if you are using envelopes of any kind you need to make sure that it is tightly wrapped and the book isn't loose (extra space) in the envelope. 

It's simple as pie to put the book inside a 'food and bread bag' (it's like a gallon ziploc, only without the zip, and made of the same thin plastic as sandwich baggies?), fold it smoothly around the book, and use a strip of packing tape to seal the opening down. 50-bag packages go on sale for $.89 at the grocery store all the time; they might be less at dollar stores.

I can't imagine anyone considering this small step too much trouble or too expensive, when it can easily make the difference between receiving a ruined unpostable mess, or a perfectly serviceable and adored book ...

I wrap in plastic (a nice violet) and then use the paper wrapper I print from here and tape it really well.  This is cheaper for me than the envelopes.  now if I can get them cheap that is one thing, but they are fairly pricey (or can be)

I use plastic grocery bags...Im pretty inept when it comes to plastic wrap :-)  I just pop the book in wrap the bag around, slap on some tape then wrap in paper grocery bag, pbs wrapper, or an reusable envelope.  Im in New Orleans & plasic has saved many a book...it maybe sunny when my postal guy drops off my books but may be raining practically sideways by the time I get home from work so although the outside may be soaked the book is often safe & dry

After a book got wet in my own good mailbox, (a lot of rain here,) I bought a roll of very small garbage bags to wrap my books in. They are convenient, fit about any size with enough to tape closed, and are really cheap. 

Just sent out my first book wrapped in plastic.  I used a grocery bag because we were out of cling wrap.  Then I went to wrap up my second order and no plastic grocery bags.  They are always laying around when you don't need them, where were they at today.

The serious problem with plastic grocery bags is that they rip so VERY easily that almost any bag that's been used even once has pinholes in it ... and so, is no longer waterproof.

I use regular plastic wrap and tape it off at the ends.  I know it might be a pain to open but I'm sure someone would rather have to cut the plastic wrap off then have their book ruined.  I don't wrap in PBS paper because I had one damaged by usps so now I cut up brown paper grocery bags since they're a little bit more heavy duty.

I wrap with plastic wrap, tape the ends with scotch tape, and stick the book in a manilla clasp envelope (a 6x9 works well for skinny paperbacks).  I fold a piece of packing tape over every edge (to prevent ripping of the envelope) and tape over the flap so it's nice and secure.

Wow, I'm really glad I found this topic. I had a few books come to me recently wrapped in plastic and wondered why. Now I know. LOL I definitely will start doing this as well, every bit of protection helps. Thanks for posting this!

I am happy to wrap in plastic if it is requested. If it is not specifically mentioned in conditions, I don't do it. I do use a LOT of tape, though...

I'm gonna start doing that, too.  I always figured the bubble-lopes would keep the moisture at bay.