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Hi all-- I did two bookfairs the week before and of Thanksgiving break. Here is = my analysis of them. The first school--has always had 2 Scholastic bookfairs. The past = profits were in the 40% area, and about $700 in vouchers. Problem: The = selection was not always great, I could not request books that would = augment the curriculum, too much "junk". AND the vouchers could only be = spent in the catalog or at the warehouse for books that I usually = already had one copy. This year I did a Borders bookfair. I was able to = request titles, got newer books in Spanish, and popular titles. I = profited at 25%, ending with $400 in cash as profit. My booksale was = the first for the Borders representative at the middle school level, so = it was a learning experience for both of us. And I had = teachers/librarians from neighboring districts come in to see how I set = it up and how well it was going, and any suggestions that I might make. = Parent volunteers made the bookfair possible by manning it during the = lunch periods and during the conferences. I have a choice of spending it at Borders and will receive between = 20-25% discount (depends on the amount spent at the time)--which will = give me a spending power around $500. Let's see: vouchers for the = catalog/warehouse vs cash AND nonselection vs selection. I think I = will be continuing a Borders bookfair. At the other school they have always had 2 Scholastic bookfairs. The = past profits were in the 40% area, and about $900 in vouchers. Same = problems. I am still waiting from the Parent Club about what the = profits were for this year, but it looked to be about the same as in the = past. Parent volunteers totally ran the whole fair including setting = up, tearing down, and manning the area before school, lunchtimes, = afterschool, and during conferences. In comparing the two sales, the first school had 95% sales in books. The = second school around 50% (computer programs and the scholastic "junk" = was the rest) in book sales. The first school I am able to spend the = cash for things that will benefit student interest and curriculum. The = second school I am able to spend the vouchers either in the catalog = (only about 7 items I do not already have on the shelves), OR at the = local warehouse (again, already owning the majority of the books in the = library and will just be getting additional copies of popular books). I = have to wait for the vouchers, I have the cash now. My representative at Scholastic is helpful, but is not able to meet all = of my requests. My representative at Borders was helpful and cheerful = about meeting my requests. (Jean Wegner even was cheerful about = unloading the bookfair in the middle of a snow "storm". It was unique = trying to carry everything in while scraping off snow and using towels = to dry the rack off before putting books on it.) We did learn, that special requests should be made at least a month in = advance (IE: Spanish books, books on tape, books that meet curriculum = programs) Having LOTS of table space and book cart space is a MOST. = Although the Borders rep brought in a wonderful book rack, it takes up a = large space that most libraries would not have available ( I did), and = it was not easily moved (the fair started out in my library, and then = for parent conferences is moved to the commons--since the library is in = a back section of the school and NOT easily seen or found). Smaller = book racks would be a plus. I know that we have had the conversation about Scholastic bookfairs vs = commercial store bookfairs in the past. I think by being able to = compare the two side by side, I have decided that at the upper levels, = that the commercial store bookfairs have much more to offer. It would = also depend on the relationship of the librarian with the store = representative. The one I am working with is a former teacher. I think = that since my goal is to both make money for the library AND to support = reading in the school, the store bookfair met that goal closer than the = Scholastic bookfair. I do think that if I was at the elementary level, I would still consider = using Scholastic. It is my belief that the elementary fairs were better = equipped with a greater selection of books that were appealing to = younger grades and readers. JaKay Greer Teacher-Librarian Damascus / McCarty Middle Schools Gresham, OR irismedia@prodigy.net =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. 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