Bookmarks! Best, Practical, Unusual, Weird, (Usually) Poorly-designed, etc…

Ah…keeping place. The stop-and-start of reading anything which cannot be completed without the interruption of our intellectual pursuits by life, the modern world, sounds, distractions, smells, a change in the light, intruding thoughts, hurricanes, the fading light, etc...

So somewhere we must leave off, and mark that temporal locale, which we plan on returning to – and usually we do. But sometimes we don’t, and the object of marking becomes lodged in place until we rediscover or investigate our past desires. With any luck it won’t stain the pages we left behind.

Pieces of paper, post-its, hair, bending down a corner (sacrilege!), dust-jacket flaps, ribbons (mostly glued within the binding), and of course, bookmarks! The most common are the free ones, cheap ones, ones that advertise a place to purchase books, or to sell them, or endorsing some benefit/non-profit/cause to cure or solve something or other. Most of mine like this have phone numbers on them, imbibing and urging me to inquire if there are more of these multi-page objects available. (To fill with more adverts.)

But then there are the designed ones, the artistic ones, and, er, the Hollywood sponsored ones. Movies. And again, movies. Etc. And while there has not been a graduate-level dissertation on the use of yarn vs. ribbon, there will be one soon. The worst are the bookmarks which are so highly impractical to be useless in actually keeping one’s place when reality intrudes on imaginative living.

Like, anything of density, or ridges, or uneven composition. Beads. Metals. Some modern ones are strings w/heavy objects at either end, which is ok for display on a bookshelf, but one would really never use it in a book that is actually being read! (And to think that a recent magazine advert showed a mobile phone so thin it could be used as a bookmark! Yeah! If you're reading an unabridged dictionary, maybe!)

And then there are the plastic monkeys, elephants, bees, butterflies, etc. that are clips meant to attach at the top of a page. Not even attractive for displaying, and impractical when ‘moving’ a book anywhere (don’t even try to put it in a bag – it’ll be shorn right off and rip any written material thrown within).

And then there’s losing your place – when the bookmark fails (either by user error or fate). Alas, poor lost place-e-o. If the writing was bad enough, you'll just place a ripped piece of random *whatever* wherever and put it back on a shelf. Maybe you'll give it to a friend, highly recommending it to them, or you'll list it on Bookmooch, and never find anyone who wants it - even for free.

What was this all about? Bookmarks! One thing I'll say for sure: if I have a bookmark in any book that is not horizontal, you can have it!! (Because I'm sure not reading it!)

Well for the past 6 or so years I have had a cult-like devotion to the Levenger "Book Bungee" bookmarks. I like to give them as gifts too because I am firmly of the belief that every bookworm should swear allegiance to the Book Bungee.

As I carry whatever book I am currently with me at almost all times they are perfect for keeping the book covers and pages together thereby minimizing the damage I would otherwise inflict on my books.

http://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLATES/PRODUCT/Product.asp?Params=category=17-193...

I recall I used to snip the corners of envelopes so I could fit them over the corner of a leaf.

Index cards! They may not be the fanciest or prettiest things, but there's nothing more practical.

I'm a reviewer, so I'm always jotting notes on the index cards. But even when I'm reading a book that I'm not reviewing, I find I'm always copying pithy quotes, complicated character bios, etc.

My favorite bookmarks are old IBM 5081 punch cards. They are about 8x3.5" and provide lots of writing surface for taking quick notes.

I also love Book Darts (http://www.bookdarts.com), which while technically not bookmarks, can be used for that purpose. I use them for marking passages I want to come back to in my research.

Much like the punch cards, I use old airline boarding passes. There's always some around wherever I am (I tend to travel a lot), they're disposable when they wear out, and they hold my page well :)

For practicality, I don't think anything will beat those index cards, unless it's something with a pen or pencil attached as well, but then when have I ever been practical. I have had some lovely bookmarks given me over the years by visiting missionaries, I use these and remember to pray for them. A couple of my bookmarks are not so lovely, but made with love by my children, that trumps looks :) I have one bookmark only for reading murder mysteries. A flat, plush mouse which my husband gave me (I have a penchant for mice). For some reason in my twisted mind, it has a very surprised look on its sweet face and seems perpetually shocked, hence the murder mysteries.

For much of my youth I never used bookmarks. I remembered where I was. But with age, I have come to rely on Page Points by Levenger.

as of today? i found a 'hank of' dark violet braided silk cords....oh how victorian! Enough to last a lifetime...want some?

I used bookmarks for most of my High School life because I had this one given to me by my ex-girlfriend. I really wish I could've marked how many books I've read with that one bookmark, and each other bookmark that I used after that. Perhaps another thing to add to my obsessive-compulsive nature of accumulating things. Nowadays I don't use bookmarks, just anything lying around. It's bad enough that I don't finish books, but I go back to them and I cannot pick-up from where I left off. Maybe this website will put me back into the reading groove :)

Bookjones

What a great idea those Book Bungees are. I might see if anyone on my side of the Atlantic stocks them.

Not exactly sure how the bungee works, but I get a vague idea from the small pics...4 for $20 tho?

I will learn how to make some...I am sure it can't be that hard to do..anyone have one, or care to elaborate on how they work?

from what i get, it is a plastic lip that inserted makes for the page marker which goes in laterally, while the 'bungee' or wide elastic goes round the book to keep it closed? perhaps some velcro could be utilized?

(wish I had a way to diagram a drawing)
anyone help me with a simple explanation?

zoeone:

Your description is precisely how the book bungee works. Technically you can hold your place horizontally or vertically but the former position just seems wholly unnatural to me. Who ever puts a bookmark in horizontally? While $20 is steep for some book marks I think on the whole they are a good investment for me because I carry my current book in my bag at all times so there is lots of potential for jostling and mangling. After stretching the elastic on a few Bungees and rendering them useless I have come to the conclusion that wear and tear on one is exaccerbated by switching between hardcover and trade paperbacks so now I use one for each type.

BTW, I have never paid more than $20 for the set as it is often often on sale. Many times they have the single ones on sale if they are trying to get of unpopular colors.

Take for example the Book Bungee Magnifier which is currently on sale for $2.95:

http://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLATES/PRODUCT/Product.asp?Params=Category=17-193...

john257hopper:

Back in the 80' and early 90's I used to buy single bungee-type bookmarks at one of the large chain bookstores here in Chicago but they went out of business some years ago. That is why I was elated when Levenger came out with their very own Book Bungee.
Alas, I have not seem them or any knockoffs at any stores or anywhere else online except the Levenger stores and website so I have no knowledge of how folks accross the pond could get them other than through Levenger.

Also zoeone, here are some pics of the Bungees in action that may give you a better idea of how to fabrictae your own:

http://www.levenger.com/Pagetemplates/Product/MorePhotos.asp

http://www.levenger.com/Pagetemplates/Product/MorePhotos.asp

Thanks you, bookjones. I had already contacted a small company here in the UK that makes bookmarks and they also advised me to contact Levenger, as they did not think the book bungees were available in the UK. I'll have to check the likely postage rates before deciding whether it is worth my while.

BrettXY, thanks for the information about BookDarts.
I tend to read multiple books at the same time. I find that normal bookmarks and cards are always falling out of the books and in general make my library look messy.

After much searching, I found one specialty bookstore in Australia that sells the BookDarts. I am very pleased with them as a bookmark or a line marker.

I notice that www.Levenger.com sells a similar item called Page Points.

Bookbungees: I have been using something similar to protect my books while traveling. I use those elastic things women use to hold their hair back. It is not pretty, it is not a bookmark, but it does the job. The book bungees appear to be a much tidier option.

I have some gorgeous inlaid wood veneer bookmarks and every so often I treat myself to some more (the best-looking ones I've found are at mitercraft.com). I have given them as gifts to reading friends who seem to like them as well. They wouldn't work well for those who want to mark lines, or who need a bookmark that will stay in place for travel -- but aesthetically, they're tops.

I have until now been throwing away those wristbands they give out instead of tickets at festivals but thinking about it they would make good make for nostalgic bookmarks.

Definitely plane tickets... No idea how that started, but there you go..

Sadly, my recent plane tickets have been printed on flimsy glossy paper instead of card stock -- no longer as nice for bookmarks, IMHO.

I use those braided string handles from worn out gift bags or fancy shopping bags. When you cut the paper of the bag to get the string free, you end up with just the right length for a hardcover, with a knot at each end.

They're small and light, I can leave them all over the flat, so there is one in reach whenever I'm forced to put down a book.

And recycling is always good. (grin)

Ticket stubs. Losing wagers from the track (I get a lot of those). Toothpicks (bad I know). What I find works best is the paper wrap from disposable straws - never falls out (even when you hold the book by the binding and shake it trying to find it).
My fav is the ticket from game six of the 2001 ALCS (sadly unused).

I just grab a pair of scissors and a thin cardboard box (Kleenex boxes are attractive) and go to work, creating several from each box. I have a zillion all around, by my reading chair, in my nightstand, in the kitchen, and so on and so on and so on. Those pennies saved can go towards another book. :)

A year or so ago, I worked for a paper company that created publishing and packaging grades of paper. When samples were sent to our customers, we often had to cut them down to a particular size. I had a friend that worked in that dept. cut them into 1 1/2" wide strips (about 12" long) and save them for me. I probably have 500 or so bookmarks from doing this. If you live near a paper company ask them if they have thick paper stalk that they are going to throw away, you can help the environment and your pocketbook by re-purposing their scraps.

I use lots of things -- for a book I want to take notes in, I use the large (3x6?) post-it notes. I use the smallest ones (1/2 x 2?) if there's no note-taking. Otherwise, I use whatever is at hand or the book mark the store stuffed in the bag with my purchase.

Parkersmood > great idea!

I like bookmarks with bookstore logos and addresses, especially the more unusual ones (small, independent...) I use ticket stubs too (if anyone ever finds the one from the New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra benefit concert for St. Alphonsus in New Orleans in April 1994 that I forgot in a Toronto Public Library book--I'll give you golden ducats to have it back), a few made from Haagen-Dazs single bar packages (choice for diet books!) and a bunch of unclassifiables--paper money and even a flower, laminated. Bookmarks which came into life with bookmarking purposes are few and far between, although I have a few, mostly gifts--Japanese silk and a couple in soft leather.

One of these days I'll take all my special ticket stubs and other bits of paper to get laminated. Preservation of memories AND utility.

Here's a free bookmark you can download and print as many as you like:

Desoldered circuit boards, cut in 5 inch by 2 inch strips. Mostly motherboards, but occasionally an IDE card.

Run a blow torch over an obsolete card and everything falls off. Now you have a flat, hard, impervious piece of green and copper tracery. Cut with jig and dremel, electric miter saw or small table saw. (Do these in bulk because it's really not worth the effort to drag out the torch and saw without being able to make, oh, forty or so.)

Old boards were thicker, but newer ones are about 1/16th of an inch.

Damn, if only I'd had a blow torch, I wouldn't have had to buy those from B&N... :)

I am soo domestic! Haha, I made about 50 out of fabric, lace and old uphostery samples. I like them because they are soft....and pretty, and.. and.. and.. cause I MADE EM MESELF!

ps wish I had a bunch of those 'mothers' as i think they look sooo kewl, have seen them in new age book stores as notebook covers, along with the revamped rubber tires for book bags, and all that great tekkie stuff.
Now what to do with 487 beer bottle caps?? any notions?

PSS Lola, you can buy a little propane tank and torch at your local hardware store for about $10

Flatten out the bottle caps and glue to a wide ribbon. You could match up colors, brands, etc.

Lola - you can get a laminator for about $20 now at an office supply store. They have the laminating plastic in all different sizes, also.

All,

Please keep in mind that most of the materials described in this thread for bookmarks can deform a book (because of the thickness or the stress) and/or discolor the pages if left in the book for long periods. For some books, no big deal. But if you expect the book to be part of your library for the long-term, you'll want to be sure to remove these bookmarks before the book ends up back on the shelf.

If this is a concern for you, consider picking up some heavy, pH neutral paper stock and cutting your own bookmarks. Then, if they are forgotten, they aren't likely to do any harm.

O.

I confess that I am an enthusiastic dog-earer. I think wear and tear adds something to books you've read. A well read book shouldn't look pristine. (To take it a step further, a well used cookbook should have sauce stains on every page.)

Does this make me a Philistine?

(Also throw away dust jackets, but that's probably another thread.)

Not a Philistine, but a good candidate to be a school librarian. Nobody mistreats books more than the typical school librarian - stickers, stamps, plastic covers taped to the book, pockets glued inside the book, etc.

O.

Like some of the people above, my best bookmark is simply strips of paper an inch or so wide, 9-12" long. I keep collecting other types of cool/clever bookmarks - I *want* to use them - But the truth is that I have a fidgiting habit of sliding paper under my fingers incessantly when I read which pretty much requires having a strip of paper handy (I wear out several strips in the course of a book.) Since I'm an office support worker, I often have stacks of paper strips left over from projects, etc. I never have a shortage. ;-)

But let's say I actually *used* all those nice bookmarks I've collected... The worst? The really fat ones (thick sections of wood, metal, plastic) that mess with the book's spine or any that crease or bend pages (certain clip styles). I wouldn't use those in the end anyway.

I have to agree with Osbaldistone on this one. My wife is an elementary school librarian (K-5) and the books in her library are merely things that have to get stuffed on shelves in a particular order. Each book gets a rubber-stamped address in 3 different places and sticky-backed bar-code labels placed on the front (over the title, usually), and spine labels and reading-level labels, special holiday labels... and a protector strip over each one. It's a wonder one can read the title!

I understand that as a "public" (v. private) library, it has to be this way, and the books are purchased with the consideration of durability, as opposed to posterity, in mind. Still, it bothers the heck out of me.

We're currently doing the end-of-school-year inventory count. Some vendor's books books are a LOT more durable than others.

My parents travel A LOT and my mom is always buying me bookmarks as souvenirs. The best are the woven bookmarks she purchased in Turkey - they have lovely Turkish designs on them. When I need others, I often use post-it notes, which is not really pretty, but it gets the job done.

I collect bookmarks, and my collection currently has more than 850 of them. Most are paper or cardboard, but there are an astonishing number of silk, leather and metal (sterling, brass, bronze and other metals). About two dozen are homemade. Most are from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, though my oldest one is dated 1864.

My web site has a column on it that I co-write called "On Marking Books." Each week, there is a piece on bookmarks. I tend to take a single bookmark and research its history. My co-writer, Laine, likes to write about themes. Our former co-writer, Frank, is an expert in medieval bookmarks and often wrote about that. The column has been running since January 2006.

I started collecting when I came across hair that had been laid in an old book called The Love Affairs of a Bibliomaniac. The chapter entitled "Baldness and Intellectuality" had a clump of golden brown hair (male) that had been in there for so long it had created visual stigmata. I love it. It's the first bookmark I found and the only one that stays in the book. But it started my passion for them.

I use index cards when working on academic projects, but mostly I use Playing Cards. You can get a cheap pack of playing cards at a dollar store and you get 52 or more nice glossy and thin marks. I don't worry about losing them, but they are just about the exact size that I don't lose them as much as the other marks that I've used over the years. Plus it's very easy to notice a playing card on a messy floor or an odd couch floral pattern. When one dies you just go back to the pack and grab the next one.

If even a $1 is too much, you can often find an old deck that's missing a few cards lying around the house somewhere. Also, if you live near enough to a Casino you can easily get used Casino decks for cheap/free. To prevent cheating Casinos go through a lot of new decks in a night. They are usually very high quality cards, but (again due to security) they have very visible markings (sharpie, holes) that can sometimes make them hard to actually play with, thus just about perfect bookmark material in my not so humble opinion.

I am a sentimental bookmark fanatic and love this thread! Thanks for all the ideas, I have much to find to add to my collection now.

I collect bookmark mementos when I travel and prefer panoramic scenic photos. We used lovely engraved bookmarks as table favors at my parents 50th wedding anniversary (both avid readers and original book nuts), and I am always getting decorative bookmarks as gifts. My favorite is pressed flowers on hand made paper.

We make beautiful bookmarks at home and in class using card stock, fun scissors, hole punch and ribbon with decorative stamps, stickers or drawings. I like to give them with gift cards to bookstores. I make bookmarks with recycled paper or laminate trimmings from school and always have a handful ready to give to kids when we do book talks. At our school's annual book drive, we award school logo bookmarks for donations, and we often find interesting bookmarks left behind. My favorite find is a lovely cross-stitched sampler from an old hard bound Black Beauty.

I keep my bookmark collection in the drawer in the bottom of a small bookcase, which holds my oldest and most sentimental books. I use them often to mark poems or passages and leave dozens in the books, but the drawer is always full! Ironically, my current reading pile is peppered with tiny post it notes, index cards, playing cards, grocery or to do lists, anything I grab at the moment. Post its are preferred, since they are harder to lose.

Most interesting to me are two tiny triangles of newspaper that I used when I was young and naive to mark Shakespeare's Sonnets, an 1897 edition. I was entranced by the beautiful engravings on each page. Acid stains remain in the corner of the marked pages, like ghosts from my youth. I wonder what I felt compelled to remember in those words, and regret that I foolishly ruined the paper in such a lovely old book.

Some trick of fate has granted me the uncanny ability to lose every bookmark that comes into my possession, so I now resort to the crude tactic of using little scraps of paper or index cards. Anything that I've scrawled some pithy or insightful quote or remark onto is fair game for a bookmark, as I never use anything I am afraid to no longer have.

43 Allama -

Me too! I have the same gift. So when I get bookmarks (I am occasionally given them, a friend of mine sent me some lovely bookmarks when she was in China a few years ago) they are decorative elements, not functional items.

Ha - what a great topic. When I was about 10 or 12 I could hardly buy a book without buying a bookmark - you know, the heavy paper, slightly plasticized ones with a humorous saying and a cheap piece of yarn. I think at one time I owned every Garfield bookmark that had been made. During one of my moves since college all but 2 of them were abandoned to their fate. My first (and favorite) that was printed to look like a piece of wood and had holes punched in it. The 'bookworm' bookmark. The second has a unicorn and a quote from The Tempest on it.

But they are never handy when I actually need to mark one of the 3 or 4 books I'm reading, so restaurant receipts, bits of paper towel, just about anything gets drafted into service. And of course, the local bookstore helpfully supplies heavy paper bookmarks with their name on them with every book. Which ultimately just go in the recycling bin. I could probably print a couple of books just on the paper from those.

I've also had a couple of metal ones that I've received as gifts or promotional advertising. I've never liked them, as they are difficult to use (too stiff) and/or tend to permanently crease the pages they are over.

But the BEST bookmark has to be the one I made myself when I was about 8. It was a 3X5 card folded over, with little holes cut in one side labeled "page" and "paragraph". Inside each window was a bit of paper labeled with Left and Right for page and numbers for paragraph. The idea was like those kids books with "animated" pages - you'd pull or push a little exposed tab to expose the right information in the windows to tell you where you left off. Amazingly clever. And such a pain to use that I ended up training myself to remember almost exactly where I'd left off.

Here is a link for a bookcase: http://jenniferconvertiblesblog.com/blog/2007/12/really_awesome_bookshelves_to.h...

Why it looks nice, I think it would actually damage the spines of books. Particularly on some of the more extreme curves. Oops, sorry wrong thread.

There are only two bookmarks I can ever remember purchasing.

One had a breathtaking interior photograph of Ely Cathedral.

The other was a laminated bookmark portraying the characters from the classic British stop-motion animation series "The Clangers".

I still treasure them both.

I have a room that needs to be painted, and although I can't decide on a color I've found that the color cards -- of which I now have many -- make wonderful bookmarks.

I have a box filled with bookmarks from independent bookstores from around the country, most of which date back decades. I found them in used books that I have bought. My rule is, no taking a bookmark from a book I don't intend to purchase. But I do not use these bookmarks for the purpose for which they were intended!

For a practical bookmark, I often use pieces of holiday ribbon, about half-inch wide, that I cut to appropriate lengths. I also have an interesting joker card from an old pack of playing cards that I sometimes use.

I like to use business cards. I am forever getting cards handed to me on different projects and once you've transcribed the number to your phone the card is next to useless but they make great bookmarks, and if I lose one it's no big deal

re: message #45 from grizzly.anderson

The unicorn with 'We are such stuff as dreams are made on! I had that same bookmark - actually, I still have it, somewhere, I think.
____________________

My best bookmark was a made by a friend in college. Our bookbinding tutor had bought a laminator for us to use (read: to cover random things in plastic) and she collected a bunch of leftover tiny ivy-leaves she'd cut out to go under the leather on her find-binding project, laminated them in a rectangular strip and presented me with it.

My other favourites are a rare cloth bookmark with characters from Charles Dickens and another old one which is colourful woven cloth backed onto leather. I don't use those often, for fear they'll fall apart.

Mostly though, I tend to use postcards, cinema ticket stubs, business cards, those scented strips that you get from women's magazines and bookmarks from bookcase manufacturers (if you request a brochure, they quite often send you a promotional bookmark to go with).

I lose "real" bookmarks constantly, which is a pity, because a lot of people have gone to trouble to pick out bookmarks that match my personality-- a coworker traveling to Ireland, for instance, brought me an Irish writers one that was really nice. Another friend, who knew of my existentialism fetish, brought me a really cool Sartre one that you decorate with stickers. However, I just lose these.

On the other hand, I can keep up with a ripped-off corner of paper for ages.

I don't keep up with index cards particularly well, but I take notes in the book itself (I'm a scribbler), so that doesn't really matter. I also use post-its as flags for important pages (yay, Levenger, for producing a reader's kit so obsessive compulsive readers like me can tote their reading supplies around-- of course, I did lose the book bungee that came with that).

For heavy, hardcover books, holy cards mark excellent bookmarks.

When I worked in a InfoTech consultant capacity for a few years, every time I was sent to a new site or a new job, my consulting firm invariably sent me a new box of 500 business cards with my name and company info.

Due to the responsibilities of my assignments, I rarely met people face-to-face and within a year's time would only hand out an extremely small portion of those cards.

Well....

I couldn't just throw them away - that's wasteful. So now, I have more small, thin bookmarks than I have actual books. They're hearty, work in any size book without causing damage, and when it gets worn can be easily replaced with an identical twin.

My wife has a habbit of tearing out every card dropped in every magazine she gets and tossing it onto the coffee table. I have what seems like and endless supply of bookmarks on that coffeetable.

My english professor says we should make notes in the margin of the books he has us read. That of course is a mortal sin. I have bussiness cards from my last job I use to mark pages of intrest and make notes in a notebook like God intended.

Ha! I just used a 'ReadyMade' loose magazine subscription card to keep place in a book the other day. While I wouldn't recommend it as a regular method to keep place, I found it pretty handy. \\ hee \\

I use to travel a fair bit for work so I would collect the throw away hotel room key and write which city they came from on the back of them. They work good as they are the size of a credit card without the raised lettering. Used gift card as work well.

In the early days of this thread, I spoke of my years-long allegiance to the Book Bungee. Frankly, I never thought I would find another bookmark that could impress me or prompt a, "D'uh! Why didn't someone think of this before?" wow factor response in me. The Book Bungee is damn near perfect in my opinion. Nevertheless, the other day I was browsing around a B&N and on a lark I perused the bookmark display stands and discovered the LastLine bookmarks. I have to say, that's hands-down the BEST $2.95 I've spent on a non-edible product in forever! And you get 2 in the package to boot. Years and years ago, I would buy the occasional clip-to-the-page style bookmarks---lovely fancy metal designs from museum gift shops and the like but always hated that they tended to rip the pages they were clipped to while in my bag. I've only been using one for a few days at this juncture but so far, so good these LastLine bookmarks smooth plastic design have not as they advertise on the packaging. Pretty awesome.

http://www.lastline.20m.com/

ETA: I am now finding that the second one int he pack is ideal for marking my exact place/last line for magazine articles!

I use ribbons as book marks. The craft stores often have $1 spools of ribbon that can be cut into several bookmarks. Also, I've seen ribbon in the $1 spot at Target, and other stores occassionally.

For an even less commercial bookmark - I found an all natural bookmark, a bunch of pine needles, stuck three quarters of the way through The Road Back to Nature. Don't know why they didn't finish (maybe too stoned or had to stop the combi to give birth!)

It's a joke, guys! I am a bit of a hippy so I think I can ridicule my own kind. I usually just use bus tickets, sales dockets or bank balances (they're not very long).

Grandfather always said "Never pay more than a dollar for a bookmark, just use the dollar."

I use a dollar bill from the Bahamas folder in half long ways. Very colorful. If I used a US dollar as you suggest l0b0t, mine kids would probably spend it and I would lose my place!

I love it when people use money for bookmarks, because that's how I've found several dollars at used bookstores. Once, I actually "made" more money than I spent. :)

I personally love the bungees but I also like the mmagnetic bookmarks.

http://www.magneticbookmark.com/productinfo.cfm

They are only $2 and the pictures are gorgeous and I like them as gifts for frends that like to read. I can just put them in the card for the occasion and no wrapping required.

The magnetic bookmarks are easy to make with card stock and those refrigerator magnets that come in phonebooks. I put interesting stamps on the front of mine. All my co-workers collect stamps for me.

Best I've found so far -- a box full of my business cards, now out of date because I've moved to another department within the university. Nice, heavy, acid-free stock, and a blank side for brief notes and whatnot.

Agree! I too keep a box of very nice business cards, now completely inaccurate, except for my name. Perfect for all the reasons cornerhouse mentioned, except mine have a large, pretty gold-foil embossed stamp on them of the logo of the airport I worked for at the time.

Started a new book today so picked another bookmark from the collection. I am using a bookmark my 17 year old son made in kindergarten. It is a lamenated drawing of his plus a photograph of him. Pretty cool. He got a kick out of seeing me still using the old bookmark. Also a great project for young kids.

Half the time I use the receipt that I got when I bought the book-- and since I typically leave my bookmarks in the book, it's always a nice reminder when I open the book again of where it came from.

The rest of the time I use random scraps of paper or just dog ear the page.

I recently posted on one of my favorite bookmarks in my collection:
http://exilebibliophile.blogspot.com

Wake up!!!

Here's a link to bookmarks found in used books.

Forgotten Bookmarks

Fascinating stuff. I've found a few odd items myself, as, I'm sure, have you.

Os.

Cool! Thanks, Os!

I like to use vellum or parchment for book markers. I like to use the free LibraryThing markers available from the tools section. There are several styles to choose from and you get 4 to a sheet. When I give a book I include several that were printed on parchment using the front and back. Parchment holds up well and is thin but you can still print on the back without it showing to much. But when I print them for myself I use vellum and only print the front. Vellum is lightweight, thin and holds up to a lot of handling.

I usually just pick up the nearest piece of paper and use that. Usually bills, paid or otherwise.

I found two letters from 1915 in a book today, used as bookmarks.

I purchased one of my textbooks from ABE this summer; inside it was a pressed and dried cannabis leaf that the previous owner seems to have used for a 'bookmark'.

Lol! Ok, that's definitely a new one, Crawford. I think you win with that.

>77 TLCrawford:
So, how was it?

Os.

>79 Osbaldistone:
The book, or the pot? ;-)

The book, and the class it is for is good. The leaf went to the compost.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Pp_9mk4oqdstWJGS3pxR9g?authkey=Gv1sRgCKiApo...

Most of my books I read now are copies sent to me to review, and the majority come with a page or two of publishing information included. I usually use those and keep notes on them. If not, I use whatever piece of paper is around. I have a bunch of bookmarks, but a) they never seem to be around when I'm reading and b) I need to take notes to remember what to include in a review.

Hands down for me are Book Darts. http://www.bookdarts.com. Little metal arrows that point out a line on the page. They're easy to find but don't stick out like post its. They're simple, cheap, plentiful, non marking, non reactive and, I think, pretty.