105 Ways to Give a Book

Thrifty Reading

With all of the budget talks taking over the news, it felt like the right time to address the issue on a smaller scale with this article, previously written and posted at PBS Booklights.

Nobody is going to argue that we’re in tough times, and even if your finances haven’t changed, you’ve probably become a bit more cautious and thrifty in response to the economic situation. Here I have another advantage, because I’ve always had a frugal streak and a nose for bargains. When I hear about kids in our country without books at home, I’m upset that these kids are missing this important literacy exposure, and I’m also frustrated knowing that it doesn’t need to be expensive to have books. Maybe feeling the pinch lately, you’ve cut restaurant outings or Starbucks grandes or — sigh — new, cute shoes. But you don’t need to cut books, though you can change the way you get them.
  1. The Library — Duh. You may roll your eyes at my noting the library as a place to get books, and that’s okay. I can take it. Of course you know it exists, that it’s there as a source of free books, but that doesn’t mean you’re taking full advantage of this generous resource. Yes, you can check out books. You can also take your kids to programs, including some for older children that might not require your actual presence in the room, allowing you to skim the magazine section. When my kids were young, we sat and read some of the books there and then took a few of those home. It made reading time special to be doing it in the library, and offered a chance to try some new titles. Utilize the librarians to get suggestions on good books for the kids, instead of wasting money on something disappointing. And don’t forget all of the resources in the library that can save you money by giving you information in the form of home repairs, craft projects, exercise programs, and financial planning.

  2. Book Sales — There are many kinds of book sales, and which works best depends your own needs and free time. Libraries often run book sales, either as an event or as an ongoing sale. You can do extremely well here, picking up some great hardbacks for a buck or two while supporting the library. Win-win. Thrift stores also sell books, though the selection and quality varies from place to place. I find the special kid consignment stores rather pricey on books, but I do have to admit that they are generally better organized. When I feel like heading to the bookstore, I do so mostly to browse the bargain books and overstocks. I’ll also use some mindless Internet time — maybe while supervising homework — to browse the bargain books section on Amazon. I’ve bought some amazing books this way, including standards that must be temporary overstocks or something. Otherwise I can’t explain the continual appearance of titles by Mo Willems, Rick Riordan, and Neil Gaiman.

  3. Book Exchanges — Some schools or community centers have a Leave-a-Book/Take-a-Book plan, but if not you can start your own. Set up a book exchange for your own school, preschool, playgroup, neighborhood, or workplace. Having a dedicated shelf for the book exchanges is a small way to start. You can set up systems of one-to-one exchanges or credits, or be more loose about it, hoping that books simply find a good home. You could arrange a larger-scale trade at your child’s school and donate the books that aren’t chosen to a charity that can get them into the right hands.
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5 comments:

Joanna said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Stephanie said...

Good suggestions :)

Also, I'm not sure how many other libraries are doing this, but my library recently added the ability to check out eBooks and audiobooks online which is a good way for those to with eReaders to save money.

Katie said...

It amazes me what people don't know about the public library. Patrons in my branch are consistently surprised that they don't have to pay for their library cards! I definitely save tons of money borrowing library books - I'd be in the poorhouse for sure if I had to purchase every title I read.

Great post!

Sandra Stiles said...

When I became a single parent many years ago, I took my kids to the library because I could not afford book. Today, as a teacher I have students tell me they can't get to the library. Our school has a wonderful library and so does my classroom. I would encourage all teachers to start a classroom library of their own. I show yard sales, thrift shops, our town has a Goodwill bookstore. I started my school library years ago because a reading teacher in our middle school had students bring in old books they no longer wanted to sell for anywhere from a dime to a quarter based on condition. They used the money to buy new books to start a library in our school (we were a new charter school). My husband gave me $50 and told me to have fun starting my library. That was 13 years ago. I have over 2000 books in my classroom library. People who truly want to read will find a way no matter what the economic situation. We need to find a way to encourage them to read.

Suzanne Casamento said...

Great ideas! Don't forget garage sales! I've found awesome books for pennies at roadside sales. ;)