Do you use book covers?

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mariek
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Do you use book covers?

Post by mariek »

<br />This is a spinoff from Mingshey's mesg.<br /><br />[quote author=mingshey link=board=6;threadid=86;start=0#6656 date=1064365889]<br />The color of the brown bag I like to use as protection wraps for my books. It lasts not very long if you carry the book quite often. But it doesn't fatigue my eyes. And the paper absorbs the sweat and oil from my hand so it's pleasing to hold the book.[/quote]<br /><br /><br />Oddly enough, my current book (Latin: An Intensive Course) is a paperback which did not come with a cover, so I made a bookcover using a brown paper bag. Not very elegant but it does its job. I also covered my Latin dictionary too.<br /><br />I used to get Contact paper for paperback books ... it's clear transparent paper that sticks onto the book, then I just trim it down to size. Of course, this is a permanent cover, so you have to make sure you affix it correctly the first time around. ;D<br /><br />For hardcover books that I want to keep in good condition (such as Le Bon Usage de Grevisse), I will remove the paper sleeve that it comes with and replace it with a transparent vinyl bookcover. It sorta looks like the one this site sells (http://www.bookmatestore.com/buc.htm (you can see it in this picture (http://www.bookmatestore.com/images/buc ... ar-big.jpg). And this site (http://www.booksforever.com/bookrepair/ph1c.htm) has illustrations to show how you put them on the book. :) There's a small office supply store where I can get them in various sizes to fit any book. <br /><br />I'm curious ... how many of you cover your books with a protective book cover or something?<br /><br /><br />

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Carola »

I usually use non-sticky vinyl plastic film - mainly because I have such trouble doing a neat job and if I used the sticky contact film I'd have to live with my botched mess for all time! I look after a small library for a gardening club so I have had a bit of practice now making the covers. <br />I only use the covers for the books I haul around a lot - ones I don't use a lot are OK. I have had some books for nearly 40 years and they still look good so I must have clean fingers!

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by mariek »

[quote author=Carola link=board=6;threadid=696;start=0#6681 date=1064376854]<br />I only use the covers for the books I haul around a lot[/quote]<br /><br />That's one of the reasons why I cover my books. I don't like covers/corners (paperbacks) getting mushed, bent, dented, etc... which is likely to happen as I'm shoving a book into my bag, or while the book is thrashing around in my bag. I'm also a bit meticulous about the condition of my books, I make a point of NOT creasing the spines, bending any pages, etc. Most of my books are in like new condition.<br /><br />I have a friend who reads a lot of rare old books; he usually wears gloves to protect the books from his hands because his hands have oils on them even when they are "clean".<br /><br />

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benissimus
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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by benissimus »

O why must society cover all that which it holds dear, leaving untold beauty and wonder to the pernicious clutches of tenebrous secrecy?<br /><br />Books may age just as we do, and why should their fine wrinkles be veiled beneath an ill-fitting cloak which serves to shroud the beauty which lies within?
flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile lingua murmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae

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klewlis
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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by klewlis »

Benissimus has a great point.<br /><br />If a book comes with a cover, I leave it on. Can't be bothered to *make* a cover... I take pretty good care of my books but don't mind some creasing and dog-earing, since, after-all, the best books are those most used, and there is something homey about a well-worn book. :)
First say to yourself what you would be; then do what you need to do. ~Epictetus

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by mingshey »

The covers are only skin deep. The contents, the true beauty of the book, are always open. ;)

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by mariek »

[quote author=klewlis link=board=6;threadid=696;start=0#6694 date=1064380786]<br />If a book comes with a cover, I leave it on. Can't be bothered to *make* a cover... <br />[/quote]<br /><br />If I left the paper sleeve that comes with a hardcover book, it will eventually tear, then entire chunks will be ripped off and it will be difficult to even keep the cover on the book. And then it'll eventually end up in the trash.<br /><br />I still have an old (old old old old!) paperback dictionary which got so much wear that the cover tore off completely. The exposed thinner pages underneath ended up getting worn and eventually fell off one by one. :(<br /><br />

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by mingshey »

[quote author=mariek link=board=6;threadid=696;start=0#6703 date=1064385153]<br /><br /><br /><br />I still have an old (old old old old!) paperback dictionary which got so much wear that the cover tore off completely. The exposed thinner pages underneath ended up getting worn and eventually fell off one by one. :(<br /><br /><br />[/quote]<br /><br />My father has a japanese encyclopedia in exactly such a state since before I was born. I might have grown sensitive to naked books' destiny at the sight of it. I saw several pages being worn off helplessly as I grew up.

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Keesa »

How did I miss this thread while posting "Protecting Books"?! <br /><br />Anyway, here is my post from that thread, if someone would like to delete it. It seems a bit superfluous. <br /><br /><br /><br />I also like to take the plastic covers off my books, and often the paper jackets, too-the "real" book always looks so much better! There seems to be a lingering air of commercialism about the best-done book jacket. <br /><br />As far as protecting the books, I usually just tend to be very careful with them. I keep the jackets, and use them whenever I'm carrying the book somewhere (although that merely frays the jacket, and doesn't seem to do much for the book) and I keep them either neatly put away or neatly stacked. I never toss, throw, drop or pull on a book, and I never lay them openface to keep my place! <br /><br />So how do the rest of you protect those wonderful things, books, which we all seem to have in such great abundance?

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Keesa »

Never mind...I just did it myself. You clearly can delete your own posts, as long as no one has replied to them. ;D

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Emma_85 »

Protect books... uhh...???<br />Well I don't actually cover them with anything, though I do repair them if they break or sell them, or throw them away... It depends on the book.

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Carola »

I found a very useful item yesterday in one of those cheap market shops - some clear plastic wallets which would fit A4 size easily with a "zip" opener (actually a sort of zip-lock with a little runner to open and close). A packet of 4 was only $Aus2 (about $1.40 US) . This way I can carry a book and see what it is easily. <br />Think I might go and get some more today!<br /><br />As for liking books when they are worn - well, it's like my face - a few wrinkles are OK but not total collapse!<br /> ;)

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by mariek »

[quote author=Carola link=board=6;threadid=696;start=0#6792 date=1064444510]<br />I found a very useful item yesterday in one of those cheap market shops - some clear plastic wallets which would fit A4 size easily with a "zip" opener (actually a sort of zip-lock with a little runner to open and close). A packet of 4 was only $Aus2 (about $1.40 US) . This way I can carry a book and see what it is easily. [/quote]<br /><br />Sounds like a pencil holder/pouch except larger.<br /><br />

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Carola »

Yes, that's right Mariek - and made of fairly thick clear vinyl. <br />Oh dear! I have just had to clear more space in the bookshelf I use to store all my Latin and ancient history stuff. I think I need yet another bookshelf (and another wall to stand it against!) My favourite bookshop just got in a load of 2nd hand Latin books.

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Keesa »

Can you build another room on your house? You can on ours...it's "post and beam" construction, where all the structural weight is held up by posts at the corners, and there are absolutely no loadbearing walls...meaning that you can cut away the walls and expand the rooms any time you feel like it! I'm thinking of adding a library sometimes soon...something along the lines of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," perhaps. ;D

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Episcopus »

book covers are for losers<br /><br />I like to see the book rather than a piece of brown or a shiny thing on the front defacing it that blinds me ;)

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Keesa »

I really like old, old, old linenbound hardcover books-especially first editions! <br /><br />I also do not like book covers. I am always careful with my books, but I like to see them sitting on my shelves.

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Emma_85 »

You're also lucky, because you don't need to carry your books and dictionaries aroud everywhere (like to school and back). They get spoiled if in my school bag - uhh... my sister's school bag, I still don't have one... I'd better buy one soon, or she'll kill me. Been using her's for over a year now... :P

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Carola »

[quote author=Keesa link=board=6;threadid=696;start=0#7141 date=1064749882]<br />Can you build another room on your house? You can on ours...it's "post and beam" construction, where all the structural weight is held up by posts at the corners, and there are absolutely no loadbearing walls...meaning that you can cut away the walls and expand the rooms any time you feel like it! I'm thinking of adding a library sometimes soon...something along the lines of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," perhaps. ;D<br />[/quote]<br />I haven't seen "Beauty & Beast" so would love to hear about this! I actually have the builders in at the moment but they are fixing the roof, putting in new windows etc. If I enlarged the house I would have to give up part of my garden and that is not going to happen! Not even for my latin books! I have already had to move about 100 potplants so the builders could get to the house. I was doing my "work 16 hours a day at 2 jobs" routine last week so having the house rebuilt around my ears hasn't even registered on my sleep-deprived brain. <br />Getting back slightly to the topic ;) - I have now gone through about 4 or 5 different ways of storing the CD's I load all my Textkit and other scanned or downloaded stuff onto. The CD folders that are rather like a book seem to be best. However labelling the CD's is a problem - yes I do have the software for producing CD jewel case inserts but this doesn't work when they are in a wallet. Can you stick labels on CD's without ruining their playing ability? Mine now have ugly handwritten descriptions written on them with a marker pen.<br />

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by klewlis »

yes, you can put labels on cds. in fact, you can probably buy special round labels that you could print on and stick to the cd... or just use regular ones.<br /><br />the library in beauty and the beast (disney version ;) is bigger than most people's houses. it has a vaulted ceiling and books stacked from the bottom to the top. huge and beautiful and i am always jealous when i see it.<br /><br />the movie itself is one of my favourite disney movies...
First say to yourself what you would be; then do what you need to do. ~Epictetus

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Keesa »

It is a little off-topic, so I'll send you a PM. :)<br />(To Carola-didn't see your post, klewlis. Sorry!)

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Emma_85 »

My favourite Disney movie is Pirates of the Caribbean, guess why :P<br /><br />@Kessa<br />You certainly build houses differently in the US then... If you're talking about taking out whole walls then they must be wood instead of brick or stone? <br />I wish I had more room for book shelves in my room (only enough space for one tiny one), but actually enough space to walk wouldn't be a bad idea either... and all that would take is tidy up...

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by klewlis »

It was carola who was talking about taking out walls, not keesa. :)<br /><br />In north america *most* houses are wood. Only the old (or rich) ones are made of brick, and I can't think of any made of stone. Here it is about getting the houses built as quickly and cheaply as possible, so wood is the obvious choice. There's no room for expansion though if you live in the city, as you'd be running into your neighbour. :P
First say to yourself what you would be; then do what you need to do. ~Epictetus

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Keesa »

Actually, it was me. <br /><br />I replied to this in a new thread (Libraries) because knocking out walls hardly falls under the heading of book covers, fascinating though it may be. (We don't actually knock them out, though...we just sort of dismantle them.)

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Keesa »

I saw a pretty little kit for making book covers of tooled leather. I could see using a soft leather book cover, especially on one of my newer books. They just don't make books the way they used to-a leather book cover might actually be more attractive on a shelf than the books as they are. I like my books to look good on their shelves...it's a point of pride with me to keep them looking good.

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Carola »

[quote author=Keesa link=board=6;threadid=696;start=15#7688 date=1065226459]<br />I saw a pretty little kit for making book covers of tooled leather. I could see using a soft leather book cover, especially on one of my newer books. They just don't make books the way they used to-a leather book cover might actually be more attractive on a shelf than the books as they are. I like my books to look good on their shelves...it's a point of pride with me to keep them looking good. <br />[/quote]<br /><br />The leather covers sound great - I hadn't thought of this before. If you were carrying the book around a lot perhaps one of those zip up covers like the old Filofax (?name?) organisers would be good. Of course a leather cover could become a beautiful work of art in itself if you really got into doing embossed lettering and so on. The old fashioned craftmanship would be totally in keeping with us Classics people!

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by benissimus »

You book coverers never cease to confuse and amaze me. You are going to hide this beautiful book behind a silly cover so you don't scratch it up but now you have an equally beautiful cover that might get damaged! Eheu...
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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by mariek »

[quote author=Keesa link=board=6;threadid=696;start=15#7688 date=1065226459]<br />I saw a pretty little kit for making book covers of tooled leather.[/quote]<br /><br />Where do you get these leather book cover kits?<br /><br />

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by mariek »

[quote author=Carola link=board=6;threadid=696;start=15#7689 date=1065227607]<br />If you were carrying the book around a lot perhaps one of those zip up covers like the old Filofax (?name?) organisers would be good.[/quote]<br /><br />I've seen cloth bookcovers which zip up. They come in different sizes, and different colors/patterns. I think they make the books a little too "bulky" to carry around, especially when you shove it into another bigger bag.<br /><br />

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Re:Do you use book covers?

Post by Keesa »

http://www.hearthsong.com/shop/product. ... =716307<br /><br />It's part of a kit for teaching yourself how to tool leather. I imagine after a while, you would probably get quite good at it.

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