Chloe Zhang
Covering a softback book in plastic is a great way to protect it from wear and tear and extend its life. There are several ways to do this, including using contact paper, which works like a sticker, or non-adhesive plastic wrap, which needs to be taped down. When using contact paper, it's important to lay the book on the paper with the text block about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the end and draw a line along the spine of the book. Then, flip the book over the line and press the film firmly against the spine to eliminate bubbles. For non-adhesive plastic wrap, fold the plastic around the book, leaving equally sized flaps on the top, bottom, and one side, and secure with tape. It's important to note that covering a book in plastic can permanently reduce or destroy its collector value, so it's not recommended for rare or potentially valuable books. Additionally, only polyester and polypropylene plastics are safe for archival materials, while vinyl is not recommended for long-term preservation due to its chemical composition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Polyester, Polypropylene, Vinyl, PVC, Contact Paper, Clear Plastic Film, Laminate, Vistafoil (Sticky-Back Plastic) |
| Thickness | 1-4 mils (millionths of an inch) |
| Adhesive | Repositionable adhesive allows for adjustments after application |
| Durability | Extends lifespan, protects against dirt, grease, food, spills, UV damage, and wear and tear |
| Cost | Thicker plastic is more expensive |
| Application | Fold plastic around book, tape flaps, cut spinal tabs, smooth with a bone folder |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right plastic
When choosing the right plastic to cover your softback books, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, you want to ensure that the plastic is thick enough to provide adequate protection. The thickness of plastic is measured in mils, and most plastic book covers range from 1-2 mils in thickness. You can purchase thicker plastic if you anticipate extreme wear and tear on your books, but this will be more expensive.
Secondly, consider the type of plastic film. Polyester, polypropylene, and vinyl are all options, but they have different properties. Polyester is the strongest of the three and is suitable for archival materials, as is polypropylene. Vinyl, on the other hand, is not recommended for long-term preservation as it emits chemicals and odours, and can cause discolouration and deterioration of the paper. It is also not chemically stable and will eventually become brittle.
If you are looking for an easy-to-use option, contact paper, which is similar to a sticker, may be a good choice. Alternatively, non-adhesive plastic wrap can be taped down. PVC plastic sheets are another option, which are clear and similar to wrapping paper.
When purchasing plastic covers, you can also look for specific products designed to protect books, such as Book Savers™, Vista-Gloves™, Smart Cover™, Easy Cover®, Flex-Armor™, Dura-Guard™, and Reddi-Covers®. These products offer protection against dirt, grease, food spills, and even UV damage.
Remember to select a height and width that will fit the book you plan to cover, and consider the adhesive used to apply the plastic. Repositionable adhesives allow you to lift and reapply the covering to eliminate creases or air bubbles, and ensure that any adhesive used is acid-free to avoid damaging the book.
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Preparing the plastic
When preparing the plastic to cover a softback book, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, the type of plastic you use is important. Polyester is the strongest type of plastic for this purpose, followed by polypropylene, and then vinyl. Polyester and polypropylene are both safe for archival materials, whereas vinyl is not recommended for long-term preservation as it emits chemicals and odours until it dries out and falls apart. Polypropylene is also a good choice for children's books as it will not yellow the covers over time.
The thickness of the plastic is another factor to consider. Plastic film thickness is measured in mils, and most plastic book covers range from 1-2 mils in thickness. If you are expecting extreme wear and tear on your book, you can opt for thicker plastic, but this will be more expensive. Rolls of plastic typically come in heights ranging from 9 inches (23 cm) to 16 inches (41 cm), so select a height that will fit the book you plan to cover.
Once you have chosen the type and thickness of plastic, you will need to cut it to size. Place your book on top of the plastic wrap, leaving about 2 inches of wrap extending beyond the top and bottom of the book. You will need to fold this excess plastic over the inside of the cover on all three sides. Make sure the plastic is pulled tight and smooth as you do this.
If your plastic wrap does not have an adhesive backing, you will need to tape it down. Try to tape from plastic to plastic, avoiding applying adhesive directly to the book itself, as this can rip the paper when you remove the tape. Cut the plastic wrap straight down the spine of your book, then repeat the process for the back cover.
Finally, you will need to cut the corners of the plastic cover at an angle. Bring your scissors right up to the corner of the book cover and cut upwards and inwards to snip off a triangle of plastic. Do this for all four corners of the book.
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Placing the book
To place the book, start by laying a sheet of contact paper flat on a table with the paper side facing up. Unroll the paper and lay it flat, then place the book on top, ensuring there is about 2 inches (5 cm) of wrap extending beyond the top and bottom of the book.
Now, fold the plastic around your book, leaving equally-sized flaps hanging off the top, bottom, and right side. Fold the front plastic flap under the front cover, pull it tight, and tape it in place with a piece of Scotch tape. This will stop the plastic from shifting as you work.
Next, tuck the bottom flap under the back cover, but do not tape this side. Flip the book over and fold the back flap of plastic around the back cover. Press down firmly across the crease to create a defined fold.
Finally, cut two spinal tabs into your plastic cover. Make a vertical cut about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in from where the plastic folds around the spine. Do this four times—twice on the top flap and twice on the bottom flap.
You can also use a pre-made plastic book cover. To do this, slide the plastic cover off the back cover and lay it flat. Lift the book slightly and fold in the spinal tabs, pressing down on the creases with your fingers. Put the cover back on, tuck in the remaining flaps, and tape them down.
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Folding the plastic
Folding plastic to cover a softback book is a great way to protect it and keep it looking new for longer. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
Firstly, place the book on a sheet of plastic wrap, ensuring there is about 2 inches of wrap extending beyond the top and bottom of the book. You can use a pencil to draw a line along the spine of the book to help guide your folding. Then, flip the book over so the spine is facing the line, using the line as a hinge.
Next, fold the plastic around the book, creating two equally-sized flaps on the top, bottom, and one side. Fold the front flap under the front cover, pull it tight, and secure it with a small piece of tape. This initial taping will prevent the plastic from shifting as you continue to work.
Now, repeat the process for the back cover. Tuck the bottom flap under the back cover and tape it in place. At this point, you should have two untaped flaps on the spine of the book. Cut two spinal tabs into the plastic cover. Make a vertical cut about 1 inch from where the plastic folds around the spine, repeating this process four times—twice on the top flap and twice on the bottom flap.
Finally, slide the plastic fold off the back cover, lay the book down, and lift the book slightly to access the spinal tabs. Fold these in and press down firmly on the creases. Put the cover back on, tuck in the remaining flaps, and tape them down. When taping, try to tape plastic to plastic, rather than to the book itself, to avoid damaging the book when removing the cover.
And there you have it! Your softback book is now protected by a plastic cover.
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Securing the plastic
To secure the plastic covering on your softback book, you can use adhesive plastic wrap, tape, or contact paper.
If you are using adhesive plastic wrap, you will need to fold the plastic around your book, leaving equally-sized flaps on the top, bottom, and one side. Fold the front flap under the front cover, pull it tight, and tape it in place. Tuck the bottom flap under the back cover, but do not tape it. Flip the book over and fold the back flap around the back cover, also leaving this untaped.
For the spine, you will need to cut two tabs into the plastic cover. Make a vertical cut about one inch in from where the plastic folds around the spine, repeating this process four times—twice on the top flap and twice on the bottom flap. Slide the plastic off the back cover, fold in the spinal tabs, and press down on the creases. Put the cover back on, and tape down the remaining flaps.
If you are using contact paper, lay a sheet of it flat on a table with the paper side up. Place your book on top, leaving about two inches of contact paper extending beyond the top and bottom of the book. Fold the excess over the inside of the cover on all three sides, and tape the top and bottom folds to the long side of the book. Cut the contact paper down the spine of the book, and repeat the process for the back cover.
When taping the plastic in place, try to tape plastic to plastic, rather than taping over the book itself, to avoid ripping the cover when you remove the tape.
For long-term preservation, it is best to avoid vinyl, as it emits chemicals and odours until it dries out and falls apart. Polyester is a stronger option, and both polyester and polypropylene are safe for archival materials.
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Frequently asked questions
Covering library books with plastic can extend their lifespan by protecting them from dirt, grease, food, spills, UV damage, and general wear and tear.
You can use contact paper, which works like a sticker and adheres to the book, or non-adhesive plastic wrap, which needs to be taped down. Polyester is the strongest type of plastic film, but polypropylene and vinyl are also options.
First, cut a piece of thick, clear plastic that is 1-2 mils thick and 2 inches longer and wider than the book. Then, fold the plastic around the book, leaving equally-sized flaps on the top, bottom, and one side. Tape the front flap in place, then cut two spinal tabs into the plastic cover. Slide the plastic off the back cover, fold in the spinal tabs, and put the cover back on. Finally, fold in the remaining flaps and tape them in place.
