Most of us have books lying around collecting dust. Maybe they've already been passed around to a few friends and now you're unsure where to put them. A book swap is a great way to recycle and recirculate gently used books while picking up something new to read in the process.
What's a Book Swap?
A book swap, or book exchange, is a get together-as fancy or informal as you choose to make it-where everyone invited brings a book (or two, or three) that they've enjoyed but are willing to part with. The books are then displayed and each guest chooses to take as many books as they have brought.
Pick a Theme
- Picture Books: A great idea for a playgroup or PTO event, each guest would bring books that are appropriate for elementary school children (this can be picture books exclusively or easy chapter books) and would choose a new selection to share with their child or donate to their child's class.
- Self Help Books: With some wine and good humor a self help book swap can make for a fun evening. Don't be embarrassed to break out your copy of He's Just Not That Into You or The Rules. It's likely someone will bring an equally blush-worthy copy of Dr. Phil's latest book or the latest in the Chicken Soup for the...Soul for you to laugh at as you secretly stash it in your pile to read later.
- Book Club Books: Whether it's an Oprah selection or a pick from your local library's book club now that you're done with it why not pass it on? Just make sure your whole book club isn't invited to the exchange, or you'll end up with a table covered with twenty copies of Water for Elephants.
- Magazine Swap: With this type of swap it's usually best to set a few ground rules. Celebrity and entertainment magazines more than a month old aren't really that fun so either have an expiration date (no magazines older than a month) or nix the gossip rags and stick to cooking, parenting, and other topics that are still likely to be relevant a month or two down the road.
Choose a Guest List
Rather than inviting the same friends you always see, who are likely to have already lent you or recommended the books they've enjoyed, consider inviting outside the box. Invite some of the parents from your child's class, your neighbors, or invite your friends but ask that they each bring a friend that you don't know. This will vary your selection and increase the likelihood that everyone will find a new book to enjoy.
Meredith Laden - As a mom to two teenage daughters, a school counselor, and former behavior specialist for wraparound services, I've encountered just about ...
