I personally have never much liked reading hardcover books. Partially because I have stubby little fingers and they tend to be big and HEAVY, but more because of the dust jacket issue. Dust jackets are always slipping around, or getting sweaty from my grubby little paws gripping it so tightly. They get frayed and wrinkled and ripped. I tried for a while just taking them off while I read the book, but then without fail I misplace them never to be found again.
“The heck with this,” I thought. I’ll just do like the library does and put dust jacket protectors on all my hardcovers!
Now, this works for me because I read primarily romance, which tends to come in mass market paperback or trade paperback. And usually I can wait the YEAR (!!) it takes for fantasy books to finally release in paperback. But sometimes I just need that sweet, sweet hardcover book in my hands right now.
For $16 I bought a 10 yard roll of Brodart fold-on book jacket cover. I bought the size that fits up to 10″ high, and it’s been perfect for all my fantasy book needs. So far I’ve covered 10 books with it, and I’ve used less than half the roll. All told it’s costing me somewhere less than $1/book to put a protective cover on. And the ease and joy of reading a hardback book with the dustcover on? Priceless.
Here’s a short tutorial on how I cover my books.
Witness the roll of Brodart fold-on book jacket cover. 
Cut a piece the size of your dust jacket. I like to cut it a tiny bit shorter than the jacket, maybe by 1 cm.
Get the jacket nice and snug to the top crease, then fold the bottom paper backing up over the jacket. 
Fold the bottom paper up so the jacket is a snug little burrito inside. If you book is shorter than 10″, your fold will be in the actual clear film – use a finger to make a crisp crease along the fold. Tape the bottom paper backing to the top paper backing (I do one piece in the middle and one near either edge).
Find where the dust jacket naturally has a fold and folder over dust jacket and cover. 
Use your finger to press a crisp crease along the fold.
Put dust jacket on book, making sure you made your side flap creases in the right place. The jacket should fit snugly when the book is closed. 
Tape the inside flap to the book at the top and bottom of both the front and back flap. 
I tape the flap to the book, but you could also tape over to the back cover if you’re worried about getting tape on your hardback.
What do you think? Do you use any sort of protector for your hardcover books? I tried booksleeves as well, but had trouble finding ones that were big enough some some of these big boy books (like this one!) Plus I found the edge of the dust jacket would still get sort of worn where it rubs against the sleeve when putting the book in. I like having the cover protected but also TAPED DOWN so it’s not flapping all over the place, too!
Elley the Book Otter 
TBR gnome! I love you so much, holy crap!
Also your tutorial is PERFECT, and I love the sassy captains.
As someone who used to put these on books as a job, I can say it is both really fun and relaxing, and also occasionally infuriating, but good for you for doing your collection! If you ever want a hand, lmk, Ill bring pizza!
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I really like doing it. I’m almost out of my roll of protector paper so I need to buy more, haha.
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I do this too! 🙂 I love being nerds together. ♥
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Yay, book protector book nerds! ❤ haha
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Pingback: Discussion: Challenges (I said I wasn’t going to do this again…) – Elley the Book Otter
I usually just take the cover off. Haven’t misplaced one yet! (Keeping my fingers crossed about that….) I do like the idea of the jacket protector though!
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wow this is a great tutorial thank you so much for sharing! I definitely needed help in this regard!
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It’s quite easy too, once you get the hang of it! I just maaaaaybe splurged on several books, plus new beautiful dust jacket covers for the A Court Of Thorns and Roses series, so I need to buy another roll of the protector paper stuff.
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It has never even crossed my mind to do this. I usually just take my dust covers off when I read the book, but I’ll admit that one has gotten ruined occasionally. This is very clever!
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Thanks! I’ve got 2 kids and a dog, so I always would put the dust cover “somewhere safe” when I took them off and then not be able to find them again, haha!
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Great tutorial! I only buy used books. I don’t feel bad about them getting beat up because most of them already look well-loved.
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No, on the odd times I buy a hardcover book, I use the dust jacket flap as a bookmark. Honestly, books rarely stay in my house long enough for me to care about the condition of the dust jacket.
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Pingback: February 2021 Monthly Wrap-Up – Elley the Book Otter
This is some next level shit, I am IMPRESSED.
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