Book jacket covers: Re-canvas of current opinions on brand and grade

Good evening,

I am cross-eyed from having read the products of searching for info on
BJC here. No problem with too little returns on that subject. Yikes!

What I'd like is an update and current recommendations as many of the
posts on the subject are several years old. I am a not a collector,
but I'd like to protect my dj's. I don't want to have to re-do it, so
I guess I want the "archival" grade. Are those worth the additional
(about 20-30%) expense?

Here's what I'd like to know: What is the best material? BJC (from
various brands) are often referred to here as "mylar"; but most are
not mylar. They appear to be most commonly made from polyester or
polypropylene. Yes, you can buy Mylar (Mellinex, etc.) sheets but the
"archival" BJC sold by, say, Brodart are plain old polyester.

What I think I want are the rolls/jackets that open on one (long) side
with archival paper backing and no adhesive/tape.

Do the perforated tear lines make life easy or are they a pain?

Do I care if there is printing on the back of the BJC? I know it's
supposed to prevent transfer, but is that a problem or a marketing
ploy?

One of the other firms (Gaylord, IIRC) describes most of its BJC as
"archival-safe". Is that the same as "archival"?

What about clarity/reflectivity? Does a bookcase of all BJC'd books
look ugly?

What about U-V protection in BJC? COOL says nix, but one company
describes the its BJC as U-V resistant. Seems like a good idea, or
not?

What about "special chemicals in the plastic to keep books from
sticking together", do I want that?

What's with covers that are "less noisy"? I've always suspected my
books carried on a secret life when I wasn't around, but I never knew
they caroused!

I have catalogues from Demco, Brodart and Gaylord, plus sample sets
from all three. To be candid, they all seem fine to me; so I'm looking
for feedback from happy (or unhappy) users along with reasons for
opinion.

BTW, I thought I'd buy some small-ish quantities (25's) of whatever
brand I selected. Then, move on to the rolls, as I have about a
thousand books that need BJC. Do I need to have special racks to hold
the rolls, like the ones that hold wrapping paper in stores?

Thanks, in advance, for any wisdom you care to share.

Nancy

"bookkeeper" wrote...
What I'd like is an update and current recommendations as many of the
posts on the subject are several years old. I am a not a collector,
but I'd like to protect my dj's. I don't want to have to re-do it...


No matter what you use, you might have to redo it anyway, if you keep the
books long enough. The protectors do their job by absorbing the wear that
the jackets would take otherwise. After many years, the protectors get
scratched and dull.


...so I guess I want the "archival" grade. Are those worth the additional
(about 20-30%) expense?


Depends on what you want to protect, and from what. You say you're not a
collector, so perhaps you want to protect some not particularly valuable
reading copies from normal wear and tear. If so, then archival grade
protectors are unnecessary. OTOH, if you have valuable books that you'd
like to protect for posterity from everything--including offsetting or
browning that might result from lesser-quality protectors--then use the
archival.


Here's what I'd like to know: What is the best material? BJC (from
various brands) are often referred to here as "mylar"; but most are
not mylar. They appear to be most commonly made from polyester or
polypropylene. Yes, you can buy Mylar (Mellinex, etc.) sheets but the
"archival" BJC sold by, say, Brodart are plain old polyester.


Mylar (capital M) is polyester--it's Dupont's proprietary name for their
polyester film. And polyester is the best material.


What I think I want are the rolls/jackets that open on one (long) side
with archival paper backing and no adhesive/tape.

Do the perforated tear lines make life easy or are they a pain?


Perforated tear lines sort of defeat the purpose of getting the rolls
(beyond the cost factor). The best thing about rolls is that they allow you
to cut each cover to the length of the dj, with no "hang out" and no excess.


Do I care if there is printing on the back of the BJC? I know it's
supposed to prevent transfer, but is that a problem or a marketing
ploy?


Archivals, of course, generally don't have printing on the back, but I've
never noticed a transfer problem on any of my books with jackets wrapped in
non-archival covers.


What about clarity/reflectivity? Does a bookcase of all BJC'd books
look ugly?


Not to me. Don't judge by the appearance of public library shelves: Imagine
clean & shiny protectors, straight spines, and no labels.


[snippage]
What's with covers that are "less noisy"?


Polyester film makes loud crinkly noises; polypropylene is less crinkly.
Unless you spend a lot of time groping your jackets, this is not a big
issue.


I have catalogues from Demco, Brodart and Gaylord, plus sample sets
from all three. To be candid, they all seem fine to me; so I'm looking
for feedback from happy (or unhappy) users along with reasons for
opinion.


I've been happy buying from Brodart--good products, excellent customer
service.


BTW, I thought I'd buy some small-ish quantities (25's) of whatever
brand I selected. Then, move on to the rolls, as I have about a
thousand books that need BJC. Do I need to have special racks to hold
the rolls, like the ones that hold wrapping paper in stores?


Brodart rolls are easy enough to use straight from the box. But they do
sell a roll holder/dispenser, if you want one.



--
Jon Meyers
[To reply,
lose your way.]