Book Swapping

10/5/09 Twelve books, donated to the Guy E. Rowe Elementary School Book Swap Library.

I'm really in the downsizing swing now. Today I got rid of three things, any one of which I could consider today's downsize. A month ago I would have thought of that as a waste, wishing I could have spread them out over three days. Not anymore. Happy to be rid of it all.

Which brings me to today's official downsize: a dozen books given to my school's Book Swap Library.

I'll be brief, but I need to give you the quick skinny on this inspirational project.

At our school, we have a little office that has been converted into a used book store. Every Friday afternoon, students can bring in old books they own and trade them for the books in the Book Swap Library. If they bring in three old books, they get to choose three different books from the stacks. The books they take are theirs to keep. Or give away. Or swap next week. Or whatever.

Just like adults, they get to make their own choices about what books they want and what to do with them once they get them.

Kindergarteners swap books. Sixth graders swap books. Sometimes, we see kids giving other kids books just so their friends can swap, too.

The fantastic part of this whole deal is that it was conceived by a parent. She came to us with the basic idea. She led the effort to get books donated to fill the shelves (and to get those shelves donated). She coordinates the parent volunteers who staff the room each Friday. She, and a bunch of other parent volunteers, do all the work.

This little project costs the school nothing. We didn't pay for the books. We don't use any paid staff to organize, run, or oversee the project. Our budget line for the Book Swap Library is $0.

And yet, it's a significant part of our school. The kids love it. It helps us cultivate a community of readers and get a lot of books into the hands of kids who otherwise wouldn't have such choices. It also gives teachers access to a huge selection of books that they can use for their own teaching or simply give to kids who may not have any books of their own at home.

In general, I think public schools could do a lot better job working with families. But, this is one case where a true home-school partnership is making a difference for a lot of deserving kids.