Thoughts on Tuesdays: Covering Books

This is a weekly meme here on my blog featuring stuffs basically anything under the sun :)

Covering Books

   There are over 7 billion people in the world today. Different classes, different hobbies, basically everyone’s different. And among the readers out there (as I’m sure there are millions of us who are avid readers), blogging or not, I belong to the group who are very particular with taking care of books. As much as I love reading, it is also in my nature to restore them and keep them in proper shape. However methodical and maybe perturbing that may sound. 

   I don’t know if you find it weird, but I know I’m not the only one who covers their books. See, I grew up learning how to cover my own books at school (school books). And over the years, I’ve developed a “tactic” on how to cover fast, and I think it’s already one of my skills. Lol. I wrap my books in plastic covers, btw, if you’re confused. I find it important and rather compelling to protect them from impending dusts and dirts that threaten to stick to them. I especially take particular care to the novels I own (received,gifted,bought). It is also  inescapable that friends would like to borrow books, and I also want to share my books, but in doing so I add a risk of future injury (accidents can happen) to them, and this is a way to prevent further damage, sort of like a prophylaxis. 

   I think it has something to do with my “OCness” as we call it here back home (obsessive compulsive). Though I don’t have a personality disorder or worst the disorder itself (because I’m not always OC, I just like to be organized in the sense that I’m not messy). Since I was 11, I collected magazines, and (okay this will be weird), but the magazines often come with cellophanes and I keep them. (I would show you a picture but I’m a bit embarrassed now, I fear I’ve revealed too much,lol). 

   Anyhoo, I compiled pictures of me, like a step by step guide on how I cover my books. I hope it will help you, if ever you wanna cover your books too. 

materials needed:

the books you’ll cover (of course)

clear tape

plastic cover 

scissors

step 1. measure the plastic cover you will use on the book. there should be about an inch excess of the book’s size (both vertically and horizontally)

2. cut the needed plastic cover.

3. fold the excess in the front as well as at the back (vertically)

4. press it (as shown in the picture) both front and back

5. hold it to secure

6. put tapes to seal it

7. do the same at the back

8. cut the corners in a slanting manner (do it on four corners)

9. there should be two layers. cut the under layer horizontally (do it on four corners.)

10. about 1/2 inch from the binding, cut it vertically and do the same on four sides.

11. cut the excess plastic (as shown on the picture)

12. When done, there should be four flaps remaining.

13. fold it over and tape. then do the same at the bottom

14. also do the same at the back

15. finished cover!

I know my steps are quite confusing, but let the picture guide you. :)