We are currently doing a major sweep of the house, trying to get rid of all the things we've accumulated and just don't need. A lot of it we've been able to find good homes for, but books are a problem. No-one around here takes donations, and we hate the idea of throwing them away! I came across a bookswapping site, Bookins (a silly name, but a fun verb as in "I'm going to bookins those" and "I have bookinsed these") and we've already shipped out a handful of books we couldn't find homes for. No plans on getting books so I don't know how that works, but so far it's a good way to get rid of them. (Our trade list is here if you want to take any of these books off our hands! It's mostly household stuff [sewing, knitting, food, gardening] plus some bios and James Ellroy.)
There is another swap site I haven't tried called bookmooch -- it's certainly cuter, but the main difference for me is that on bookins you pay to get books but shipping them is free; on bookmooch you pay to ship the books and get them for free. Since we're only sending books out bookins works better for us. But if you have tried it and liked it I'd love to hear about it!
I've been a bookmooch member for a little over a year and I love it. I have a mighty long list of books I'd like to read and only within the past year or so have learned to let go of the books I don't absolutely love so bookmooch was a godsend. Not only can I list whatever books I have (including children's books)I can get books from all over the world. I'm currently waiting for a package from Japan full of children's books (in Japanese).
ReplyDeleteThe people I've met through bookmooch are excellent. It seems like bookmooch isn't just another site, it's a community of book lovers who just want to share the books they no longer want.
I don't mind shipping out the books and paying for that. Media mail's not very expensive. And I figure the cost of shipping's less than a new book (most of the books I've mooched have been in new condition). The person I'm mooching from is going to pay about the same to send a book to me, so it's kind of a karma thing. :-)
Me again. I just looked at your book list and there are a ton I'd take.
ReplyDelete*sigh*
Good to know that bookmooch is cool! Right now we don't really want any books coming in so I'd rather not pay anything, but I will definitely be willing to give them a try when things are settled.
ReplyDeleteHey! Here's an idea:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.powells.com/sellonline
I work for Powell's, and this program is really great!
awesome!! I will definitely try that out -- too bad, I think Evan tossed a bunch of books last night because we don't have any room left for bookins storage. Well, there's lots more to go!!
ReplyDeleteLast night was asian movies, dumplings and the book I recieved from you - Eastern Standard Time. It's really cool. Thank you kindly. :)
ReplyDeleteAw, you're welcome, Rosie!! Glad that book found a good home!!
ReplyDelete