BookMooch
It's good to be a mooch!
by Laura Callaway
November 24, 2009
Beginning this fall, the Chase County High School Library has enlisted BookMooch to cover the budget deficit in providing an inexpensive method of creating a constant influx of new(ish) books! This online program allows members to trade books across the world.
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How it Works: Since BookMooch has teamed with Amazon.com, members are able to search the database for any book in other members' inventory by author name, book title, or ISBN. If a book is available, the member "mooches" the book from another member. In a few days, the book will be shipped out, and in about a week, the moocher will have a new book! This tool works on a point system. Adding books to an inventory, sending books to other members, and leaving feedback credits your account. "Mooching" books from other members debits your account.
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A Day in the Life: My member name is LauraCallaway (feel free to "friend" me!). I have created an inventory of books from the CCHS library that were otherwise doomed for the dumpster. I have about 80 books in my inventory, and since adding 1 book credits 1/10 of a point to my account, I have 8 points total. I peruse the online database, and decide that the CCHS library really needs Inkdeath in its collection to complete the Inkheart trilogy. After I enter "Inkdeath" in the search field, I see that there are 3 copies available to be "mooched" (given away by other members). I choose a copy, and click "mooch." This deducts 1 point from my account. I now have 7 points. In a while, the member who owns Inkdeath will accept my request and send me the book. I should receive the book in one to two weeks. Let's say the book has already been received. I leave feedback describing the transaction. This adds 1/10 of a point to my account, so I now have 7.1 points total. Clicking back to my profile, I see I have received a request for a book from my inventory, Handbook of Digital Logic. I accept the member's request which adds 1 point to my account. My account now has 8.1 points total. In a few days I will package and ship Handbook of Digital Logic for a nominal shipping fee, usually just under $3/package.
Books Received:The CCHS library has received 34 books to date, including two titles by our guest author last month, Lois Ruby. Here are a few:
- Miriam's Well, Lois Ruby
- Skin Deep, Lois Ruby
- The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Alboom
- Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser
- The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook, Joshua Piven
- Marley and Me, John Grogan
- Dune, Frank Herbert
I have sent out 44 books, which makes the receive/give ratio 0.93:1. Since each book sent cost, on average, a little under $3 to send, every book received theoretically costs roughly $3.50. So, you see, this is quite a good deal! Beat that, Amazon/Borders/Barnes & Noble!
