HIT:Book Swap, Part 5

[kahoover <kahoover@FTC-I.NET>]

Karen Hoover, Library/Media Specialist
Cherryvale Elementary School
Sumter, SC
kahoover@FTC-I.NET



I facilitated book swaps each year during National Reading Month when I
was in a
school. We accepted all books but had colored sticky circles that we
would
attach to the covers. One color meant poor condition, one meant average
condition, one meant excellent condition. If students brought in a book
in poor
condition they could then trade for another book in poor condition, etc.
Most
students brought paperbacks--don't remember ever getting nice hard
covers.
Students were also given tickets for each book they brought in. We also
placed
the appropriate colored sticky on the ticket so they & we knew what
condition of
book they could select. It worked well, but takes a couple of people to
manage
it. We also rotated the order that classes could come in to select books
each
year. Otherwise the same class gets the best selection each year.




We have a used book sale every spring, called the IRS (important reading
sale), around April 15.  Students and parents bring in used books all
year long, they are sorted by parent volunteers and sold for 25 cents to
$2.00, depending on condition, paper or hard cover, etc.  They are
brought into the library, and everyone knows that if some books are in
good shape that the library does not have in our collection, we keep and
they are not put in the sale.  It is a good way to replace some of our
worn copies with ones in better shape, also.  It is a nice fund-raiser
without a lot of effort like our fall Book Fair.

I have also heard of students bringing in paperbacks, the librarians
putting a certain number in paper bags, and then just distributing...but
why not make some money?

Another librarian keeps a large basket in the library and students bring
in a paperback and take one, so the selection keeps rotating.



I had students and parents fill out a permission to swap form  and
definitely
reserved the right to reject books based on appropriateness and
condition.
Some kids wanted to bring in tiny books from a McDonald's premium and
some
wanted to bring in hardbacks.  We only handled paperbacks because it was
easier to trade for fairly equal values.  We traded one for one and I
included
some paperbacks that I had accumulated from Book Fair, etc.  I got
parent
volunteers to help sort the books and maintain order.  The kids loved
it!
When they brought their books in several days before the swap, we
collected
the forms and issued a pass to come to the actual swap.
We did it during lunch time so they knew they had limited time and
didn't
waste much of it chatting--they were interested in the books.  It's a
great
way to recycle books!



 I do two big swaps at the end of the year. (I divide the 1000
students.)

I take almost all books that are in GOOD shape.  Originally I said no
hardbacks but they came anyway-so why not!  I originally took up to 10
books
but now take 8.  Each child gets a bag with his name/teacher which comes
to
the LMC with bags.  Books are emptied/counted/# put on bag.  On the day
of
the swap, the bags go back to the correct teacher.

The day is planned so 5th comes first and goes down to K last.

I think my swap is successful because I start out with well over 300
books.
Even does NOT work.  I collect books from our public library give away,
thrift shops, flea markets, sales.  I am always looking for the
'advanced'
books because too many golden and preschool books come in.  When the
swap is
over, these go to the thrift shops that helped me get the other books.

I'm sure you're getting other good ideas--my swap started by modeling
another swap.

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