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Swap, Trade, Buy? Hard to find books
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Hi Not sure where to put this idea but I thought I would throw it out there. I think there is a need for some sort of centralized forum for finding oop books or for listing ones we have, are happy to share for a time, but don’t want to sell. I have lots of CM friendly living books after 20 years of homeschooling. I am happy to share what I am not using now that my youngest is entering 7th grade. I would be afraid to just send books ‘out there’ in fear of them never returning but with you ladies I feel a lot of kinship and security so I am putting this out to see what the interest would be. What do you think Sonya, Doug? Is there room for a swap and share thread amongst us or am I dreaming? Love to hear everyones opinions on how it could look, or perhaps I am trying to reinvent the wheel and there is already something in place?
We all just discussed this and we would prefer not to jump into something like that in an official way. If we endorse such a thing then we take the risk of being responsible if someone has a bad experience with it. Besides, if it were official and made public then you would likely lose the security of this little group to a wider audience we don’t know as well.
Of course, you all are welcome to discuss it on a case by case basis and make arrangements through private messages, etc. We would just prefer that it not become the primary focus of the forum.
Now it’s not a way to loan books, but do you know about Paperback Swap and Book Mooch as ways of trading books?
Hi Doug,
Yep, I get that it shouldn’t be a primary focus..we all have heard the scary stories:) It might be an idea to have a list of old timers like me who folks can email privately if they are looking for a certain book or books that they can’t find. Its crazy that some of us are sitting with wonderful caches while others struggle..but I understand your point of view. Just hoping to help some in the journey
Heidi,
I hope I’m not sounding like a broken record, but have you considered starting a lending library for your area? You could even do by mail if you chose. I have a lending library of living books in all subjects, over 14,000 books and growing (although you don’t have to have nearly that many.) Homeschoolers join my library and they may come and check out as many books as they like at a time. I do have a list of policies to serve as guidelines for caring for them. Many are very valuable and couldn’t be replaced for nearly what I have in them.
There is SUCH a need for these libraries!! You all know how difficult it is to find the wonderful old gems through the public libraries anymore. It has been a blessing for me to operate this library and see the excitement of the children who come there and of the mom’s who are struggling to give their children a living education.
Just a thought…
I wholeheartedly agree with Doug. While it has taken a lot of searching of libraries, the internet, and used book fairs/stores, I have been blessed to find 99.9% of what I need for next year. I treasure our beloved community of CM’ers here and would hate to see it overcome with shoppers who, although they might be perfectly lovely individuals, simply don’t have the time or interest to “sit & chat awhile” from time to time. It’s the little conversations and genuine prayers here that I find so encouraging.
So…..what do you suppose is the 0.1% I have left to procure for the next school year? LOL, it’s Spelling Wisdom Book 3, of course! (I know, I know, it’s available here as an e-book….I’ll get around to it post-haste!)
Sue
There ARE CM exchange and resale email groups on yahoo. I think a thing here would be reinventing the wheel. I used to be on a group CMClassicalSwap that had things. Alternatively, if someone wanted to have just a swap group and not a sale group, someone who was interested could simply start a new yahoo group, invite everyone here who wants to go to it, and set some basic policies, and you are off! That way we wouldn’t have to saddle the good folks here with the moderating and problem-adjudicating and let them do what they do best–provide good resources for us.
I absolutely agree! The last thing I would want is to overwhelm such an amazing support group with shopping! Yuck! No, my heart was just going out to those moms who try so hard to do what seems the right thing to do and are stopped because of access to resources. I am coming to the tail end of our homeschooling journey and I remember so well the struggle it was to find excellence in the book area, lol, and that was before the joys of the internet! I live in a very rural community and when the homeschool group was larger I did have a lending library in my basement, then it was at a local church. We tried to keep it going but our numbers out here have dwindled and with government luring families away to funded programs, well the need just doesn’t seem to be there. But I do remember how hard it was and I feel so spoiled sitting here now with shelves full of treasures. I like the yahoo groups idea, I might look into that once we put this year completely to bed. Perhaps I am just overanticipating the need- maybe it isn’t there? At any rate, I threw it out there, we’ll see where it goes.
I would love a lending library…. but I know that shipping books to/from Canada is a lot more $$$ than in the US…
Yes, it would cost something, but compared to the prices I am hearing for some of these out of print books, it would still be a bargain and we wouldn’t be filling our shelves with books we only use for a year…interesting topic anyhow. Sharing vs buying is a lovely thought, and builds community as well, it just is harder to implement than going ahead and plunking down 75$ for a 20$ book…not sure the complete answer but I have been praying about it.
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