[CALIBK12] book swap

[Nickel, Cheryl]

I used to run a book exchange when I volunteered at my son's elementary school library. My purpose was to make sure all of the students would be able to take home a book whether they donated one or not. We had many students who did not have books at home and could not donate books. The students who donated more than one book were always happy to hear that the extra books they donated went to students who might not have books at home. We always had enough books to give each student at least 2 books. Cheryl

Cheryl Nickel
Library/Media Technician
Aptos High School
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From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu [calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of pamanddoug [pamanddoug at cox.net]
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 9:27 PM
To: Judy Egan; calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] book swap

Dear Judy,

I hope that you receive this response in time to help you plan an end-of-the-year book swap.

We have had an annual book exchange at Chapman Hills Elementary for the past four or five years.  It is held in the library at lunchtime soon after winter break.  Books may be dropped off in the library each morning before school, giving me a chance to examine and sort the books.  A student is given a ticket (from a roll of carnival tickets) for each book that they turn in.  The books must be gently used and in good condition.  The event is looked forward to each year.  Parents love it, too.  Their children get rid of books that they aren’t using and come home with books that they are interested in.  (The only problem tends to be that they turn in more books that are easy to read, books that they have outgrown...so I have to supplement the book exchange with other more mature books that I am given throughout the year.)  I publicize this even in the school newsletter that goes home, and I send out a printed form that students are supposed to turn in with their books, including the student’s name, their teacher, and the number of books that they are turning in.  If I get overloaded in the morning, I send their tickets to their classroom in white sealed envelopes marked with the student names.

I don’t encourage any parents to help their students select books.  (Although this probably won’t apply to more independent middle school pupils.)  It is a student-centered choice.  I have learned that a few parents would just love to drop by and help their child select books based on the $ value.  Only parents of kindergarten students may help their children select books.  This is also due to the fact that the K students don’t have a lunch hour, as they are getting out of school early.  Thus, their parents come with them.

I give up my lunchtime during the week of the book exchange to run things.  (I am found in the library at lunchtimes on most days anyway.)   Actually, I enjoy the event very much.

I do recommend the ticket format, because it seems more like “shopping” to our elementary students.  If a student turns in a great number of books (50), I mark 10 tickets as “first day” in black marking pen, and I leave the rest blank.  The reason for this is so that the one individual doesn’t clean me out of all the “good” books on the first day.  However, books continue to be turned in all week, so the selection changes daily. The ticket format helps to regulate fairness in the trading process  Sometimes children share their tickets with a friend, so the event gathers a good crowd and becomes a social activity.   A lot of students select the baby books for younger siblings and for cousins and friends, and they still manage to find some titles that they will personally enjoy.  Everyone seems pretty happy with this format.

Pam Carrie
Chapman Hills Elementary
Orange Unified School District


On 3/18/09 9:20 AM, "Judy Egan" <judy.egan at oside.k12.ca.us<UrlBlockedError.aspx>> wrote:

I am thinking of holding a book swap at the end of the school year in the library.  The idea is for teachers and students to bring in any books they are finished reading and would like to pass on to someone else. My idea is to have a section of adult reading as well as books appropriate for my middle-schoolers. Does anyone have experience/pointers they are willing to share? Thanks.

Judy Egan

Library Media Technician

Cesar Chavez Middle School

202 Oleander Dr.

Oceanside, CA 92057

760-966-4900

"When in doubt, go to the library"

--Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets


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