Omhæftet

Omhæftet is a Danish term used in publishing and libraries to describe a publication that is not bound in a rigid hardcover. An omhæftet edition typically has a flexible paper cover, or wrapper, rather than a hard back, and is often associated with paperback books or pamphlets.

In practice, the term distinguishes binding types. Omhæftet publications are usually lighter and cheaper to produce and buy than indbundne (hardbound) editions. They can include novels released as paperback, magazines, or other documents issued with a simple paper cover or wrap-around binding. The form is common for mass-market titles, reprints, and periodicals.

Usage and cataloging notes vary by context. In bibliographic records, omhæftet may appear to indicate the binding status of a specific edition, helping users understand durability, price, and handling requirements compared with hardcover (indbundet) or stapled (hæftet) editions. The term is closely related to, but distinct from, hæftet (pamphleted or stapled) and indbundet (bound in a hardcover).

Etymology derives from hæfte, meaning pamphlet or booklet, with the prefix om-, creating a form that signals a variation from the standard bound or stapled editions. In everyday language, omhæftet is commonly rendered as paperback or softcover edition.

See also: hæftet, indbundet, paperback, softcover.