HIT:Book Swap, Part 4

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

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


I did a book swap instead of a book fair at the end of the school year
last
June. I got the ideas from the wonderful discussion on LM_NET. I made
some
adjustments with the plans that were mentioned. This is what I did.

1.  I put the notice in the school newsletter a couple of weeks before,
made
a few posters around the school. Students did some 'drama' on the P.A.
on
the morning announcements to boost interest.

2.  I discussed the format (rules) with each class when we brought in
all of
the books at the end of the year.

3.   I made up some coupons with Picture book pb, Picture book HC   Pri
novel, Jr. novel, YA novel. I used the label part of the WordPerfect
program
to make a coupon so that I could check off what the students brought in.
I
could see that older students would bring in their primary books and
want a
YA book. We would run out of books this way.

4.    This is what took the time. When the kids brought in the books, a
week
before the swap I gave them a ticket for each book they brought in. Yes,
I
did talk about appropriate material. Some kids tried to bring in Adult
books
and wanted to take out Goosebumps. I did allow Goosebumps to be swapped.
I
had to restrict some of the swapping of these books. If students brought
in
a lot of Goosebumps they could swap for equal number.  They had to have
a
coupon to get a book. I had them print their name on the back of the
coupon
and I had some lucky draws each day. How exciting. It worked.
I had some posters, pencils etc. from other book fairs.

5.    I had to limit when the kids did the swapping as I do not have any
help.They could only come from 9:00- 9:40 and a half hour after lunch.
Most
of the books were taken. I kept any books that I did not have in the
collection that I wanted and then I distributed any books to the
Kindergarten and other classes. I got rid of any others that slipped
through
my 'rigid' control. :-) some kids needed to have some leniency in this
area
so that they could get a new book. (They sere so excited)

The response on the playground was great. They were talking about their
new
found books.  But it turned out to be quite a lot of work. Yes it was
worth
it. I did recycle the coupons as the days went on. It went for the week.
Hope this helps. ( I do have the "Rules" at school) I think I got them
all.



I have done this several times and have come up with some general
guidelines that make it manageable and fun.  I have two categories of
books--picture and chapter.  If you bring in a picture book, you swap
for a picture book, chapter get chapter.  The books must be in the
condition you would want to have yourself--and I do turn down some.
But, usually they return with something nicer.  No adult books.  I let
the students have several days to bring in books (if they bring more
than three or so, they have trouble finding ones to take).  I use two
colors of slips:  one for easy, one for chapter.  When the books are
brought in, I put the child's name on the proper number of slips and put
them into an envelope with the teacher's name on it.  I sort the slips,
paper clip the same student's slips together and give the envelope to
the teacher.  I set two or three times for swapping.  I lay out the
books in two separate parts of the library--one for picture books, one
for chapter books.  Then students come to the library with their slips
and choose new books, giving me their slips as they leave.  I have some
teachers who swap classroom books also.  This gives kids a chance who
may not have a book to swap at home.  It is fun.  I do it twice a year.
Once before Christmas and once before school is out for the summer.



I have done this twice at the end of the school year with great
success.  I
am in a small (250) school district so perhaps it would not work as well
for you.  Sent home a memo describing the "Great Summer Book Swap" which
would take place for two weeks in June.  You were allowed to bring in up
to
ten books of any category and these were placed on a special table
called
the "Swap Spot."  I placed all my students on the honor system -- and
they
rose to the occasion.  If you brought in five books, take five books,
etc.
You were allowed to visit the table after library class and book check
out.
 It worked so well that I had one for the faculty the last week of
school
which was a lot of fun.  Good luck!



We have a trade shelf in our library where 3rd, 4th and 5th graders may
bring
books to permanently trade.  I instruct them to check with their parents
before
bringing a book to trade.  The student then must check with me or our
aide to
see that the book is an appropriate one for our shelf (i.e. reading
level,
condition, etc)  We restrict trades to one a day/student.  Not that many
students participate, but those who do enjoy the process. I stocked the
shelf
to begin with a dozen
paperbacks that I bought at a used book fair for 50-75 cents/each.




Have you considered a Cyber Book Swap?  One book = One book.  What fun
it would be for students to share the books they want to swap through
e-mail and your students do the same, then send the books off that they
want and receive the ones you request.  I'm sure you can think of even
better ways to execute the project.



I am in a high school so our situation may be a little different, but we
do a book swap during National Library Week and let all students, staff,
etc. participate. We do a one for one swap, regardless of whether
hardback or paper. Also, we do this on the honor system. Believe it or
not, we usually have a number of books left over. We'll go through those
to see if there are any we can catalog and add to our collection. The
others we save for next year's book swap. I've also set up a permanent
book swap area for teachers only - for all those "trash" books so many
of us like to read for enjoyment.



I do two of these every year.  I try to keep it very simple.  I do one
for grades 5/6 and the other for 7/8.  One book equals one book.  I
reserve
the right to refuse books (no elaboration of reasons given).  Kids bring
in
their already read books and swap one for one, unless they don't see
anything they want.  In that case, I give them a chit, made out of
construction paper, that enables them to come in at another time when
the
selection will be different and "spend" the chit then.  Each year, I
start
with a core group of used paperbacks that I get as donations from
parents
or at a store like Annie's Book Swap.
   I use a book truck for the swap books and make a sign.  Then
advertise
that the swap is going to happen on certain dates.  Use the morning
announcements, etc. for this.
   For the kids who participate, this is a very valuable activity.  I've
had kids bring in books the first day and swap them, then read those
overnight and come back each day (we usually do Monday through Thursday)
to
swap again.  I think you will enjoy doing a swap.



I've had a couple book swaps.  Students bring in books for 2-3 weeks.  I
record how many they contribute.  I reserve the right to reject tattered
or inappropriate ones.  I counted hardbacks and paperbacks the same, but
you probably will get mostly paperbacks.  Make sure you have some extra
books to add, because there will be some that noone wants. I had the
swap
at lunch time, letting students choose whatever number they had brought
in.  Of course first lunch gets first choice, but it's hard to get
around
that.  I think I held back some books which would be more appropriate
for
the older or younger kids.  Another problem is that they bring in books
they have outgrown, so you tend to run out of things the older ones
would
want. That's where it's good to add some withdrawals.  Good luck - it
was
fun, easy, and very popular with the kids.  (I tried a teacher one, too,
but didn't get much response.)

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