Books fit really tightly in slipcase after adding DJ protectors

Hello,

I just got a 3 volume book set that came in a slipcase. I added brodart dust jacket covers to the books' dust jackets, and fitting the books back into the slipcase was a bit tough. The brodart covers seem to somewhat stick to each other so the only way I can remove a book is to turn the slipcase down and let all 3 books slide out far enough for me to pull one out. So I'm not sure if it's the just plastic covers sticking to each other that makes it tough to get them out normally or if the added thickness is making it a really tight fit.

If it is a really tight fit, could this damage the books' spines/binding over time if they're sitting really tightly in a slipcase on my shelf? Should I remove the brodart DJ protectors? Should I remove the DJ with the protectors and store them separately and leave the "naked" books in the slipcase?

>1 Silver-Books: Designers of slipcases, even ones for deluxe limited editions like Stephen King books often fail to account for ordinary jacket protectors.

When you mention three books, I think of the Lord of the Rings set where this is a common problem.

Some brands stick more than others. Gaylord and Brodart are a little more so than Demco. But none are immune.

Many brands offer minimal protectors without paper backings and this sometimes works in slipcases. It may be worth having a 10 inch high roll as part of your supplies. You won’t use it unless you have a special need case but it can help when nothing else will.

James

The sticking is a physical characteristic of the film used to make jacket protectors exacerbated by the additional thickness of the protectors themselves. Placing a sheet of paper between volumes might help, but that adds more thickness to the block. There is no panacea, I fear.

Grafix Dura-Lar film comes highly recommended, more here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/219023#6404423

While a 3 mil thickness is the standard recommendation, these film rolls also come in 1 and 2 mil (.001" and .002") sizes. Dura-Lar is stiff and not as flexible as Brodart, so it will slide easier especially against itself.

Amazon UK link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grafix-Clear-Dura-Lar-20-Inch-12-Inch/dp/B0092MJ7C4

>4 mr.philistine: Thank you for the link. I think I remember seeing brodart selling thinner rolls, so I'll check their site again as well.

I don't necessarily mind the difficulty of getting the books in and out of the slipcase as long as the tight fit won't damage the books over the long term on a shelf. I just have no experience with that. Does anyone know if the tight fit in the slipcase could damage the books or the spines over time?

I have objections against the center-split style of jacket protectors. To install them you end up with extra thickness of the paper backing. This would compound the problem of fitting into a slipcase. In general it creates a slight horizontal crease on the jacket. This can lead to a dust line and a crease on the jacket itself. The first thing you tend to notice is extra wear on the plastic at this thicker part.

I would still tend to use the protectors without a paper backing on books that go into a slipcase. It's about the only way you have a chance.

James