The Pika TLB Lending Library

Some folks pondered this idea out loud awhile ago in another thread. I'd like to expound my concept of one, and see how it pans out with input from Packlite/Charles and GerryM our Book Forum moderator <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My thoughts go along these lines......

A person has a book that they would like to put up for 'sharing/lending'; with the acknowledgment that it may not ever return to them, once 'loaned out'. In other words it's no longer theirs once they mail it on.

Other folks post their titles of the books they would like to share, as they find, or finish them <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

In order to participate and recieve a book; you must offer up books of your own. The person with the most titles up when a new book is listed has 'first dibs' on the newly posted book, on down the line to someone with maybe one title listed. This will prevent folks from 'building a library' on the goodwill of other's here at our expense.

Recipent of book reimburses sender of the book for postage only, books are no charge.

A person has 30 days with the book, then they need to relist the book; OR a new title from their collection to put into 'circulation'. OR......

If a person does not have another book that they care to put up, they can instead remit half the book's cover price as a donation to TLB via Paypal or other USPS conveyance. In this way we'll all be contributing to the finacial health of our favorite backpacking website <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

So in a nutshell...If someone posts a 'free book', in order to respond one needs to list one of their own. The person who ships the book to the requester is reimbursed the postage. If a person decides in 30 days to keep the book, they can either list a new book or make a donation to TLB of half the book's cover price <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

What say you folks'?

I like the idea however I think the "first dibs" on a new book creates the potential for "building a library" which I think we all would like to avoid. I know your heart is in the right place though.

I agree that to participate, one should post at least one title to the list.

When I first thought of the idea I figured it would be more informal with a list of books and who presently has it so if someone wanted to "borrow it" they could PM the person to get the address to paypal the media mail postage to the "holder". The new person would then hold the book until someone else "requests it". I agree with you that 30 days is probably long enough to hold the book if someone else wants it. Perhaps a way to facilitate thos would be a thread for each book with the last post being who "holds the book". To put a new one in circulation just start a thread with the book title. Personally i don't think the "library" should allow someone to "keep" the book by paying a fee. But that is just me.

I have at least two titles to jumpstart the lending library if it gets off the ground.

Dtape,

Glad we are into this, I'd like to get it rolling too.

Ok, maybe the first dibs thing is a bit much; but we would have to make sure that folks who participate give as much as they take was my point.

Making it easy to deal with folks could PM the book holder, and either Paypal or send a USPS Money Order to cover the postage.

30 days should be long enough to read a book then pass it on.

I do think that if a person wanted to keep a title there should be a donation fee associated per book. Say $5.00 or something, so that a person who keeps a book then has gotten a fair deal on the book; and the website gets some support in turn.

I have some hardcover books that I paid $20 for and are in new condition, that are resellable on Amazon or other sites. My gut tells me someone will come along just to join up and grab the books for resale. Which is why I suggest a donation fee be associated to keep the folks honest. Yes, folks can be barred from participating if they decide to not participate with the intended goodwill of the Library.

Yes, a thread per book would work; if one book is posted then that book is the thread. Other threads can be started for other book titles. If the same title is available then it can be listed within a previous thread of the title in order to keep the bandwidth down from the Forum Library(don't know what I'm talking about here <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />) so correct me on it if so.

If Packlite or GerryM chimes in on this then we can work out the bugs with a few titles to see how it goes. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Some good ideas. I personally would not mind lending books if I were guarenteed to get them back. It is amazing how many of my books are now gone because I loaned them. Also with the high postage rates nowadays, sending a book cross-country can get almost as expensive as the book itself!

Is it illegal to scan a book and e-mail to someone? I have a really good scanner.

I get a lot of my reading from Ebay. I'll put in a bid and get the book for around $1.00 and then pay $3.50 or so for shipping. Beats watching TV though. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Wd, if you send books 'media rate' through the USPS it should be a much reduced rate than 'First Class' postage rates.

Also, I proposed this be a 'once you send the book out it's gone forever' type library. Because I figure none are going to be returned due to a variety of reasons only book lovers understand <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> I thought it would be a way to contribute a bit to the financial up keep of TLB too with the, 'books that are kept TLB fee'.

Alas, maybe folks will just post up their books in the For Sale Forum <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Though I think putting them here in a 'library' would be good; reality as you pointed out may nix the idea due to escalting postage rates <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Pika, I used your name because you were the first I knew of to offer up free books <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> it was a gesture of goodwill on my part not to accept the credit for your idea, but to further it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> If it flounders I'll put my name on it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

You have a point about buying them on Feebay. Just thought we could do it here where the titles are apt to be of more generalized interest <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Scanning a book and sharing with someone is an infringment on copyright laws. Same as file sharing music files etc. I wouldn't want someone to copy my music and distribute it. That would be lost revenue for me. BTW it would reduce my chance to go platinum. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> But your right about the prohibitive cost of mailing a book. You could almost buy the book for the postage.

Media Mail is not that expensive. Under 3lbs is under $3. A 10-pound book is just over $5.

I would not expect the book to be returned to me, I'd rather it stayed in circulation and sent along to the next person who would want to read it.

I just saw this thread, even tho it began back in June. Sorry about that.
As a certified member of "Readers Anonymous", I like the idea (or any idea that gets me access to more books to read), although it doesn't seem to have picked up more general interest from forum members. Let me check with the other forum moderators (if someone's already gotten some feedback from them, let me know) and get back to folks. I don't see any reason why it can't be done, but maybe we can also put some posts out in other parts of the forum to give it a little boost. I'd suggest we take the model that's been suggested:
1--Post a thread for the lending of a particular book (or maybe to find someone else willing to lend a particular book)
2--Lendee pays postage (media rate or other, their choice) to get the book. I'd suggest we do it first come/first served on who gets the book, as is done with the buy/sell forum, which would be simplest to manage
3--Lendee puts another book onto the forum for each book he/she gets to read
4--Lendee puts the original book back into circulation in about a month (use the month as a guideline, not a hard rule). I know for myself, it's sometimes tough to get a book read when I've got other things going on or am working on a few books at once, etc.
5--I'd suggest that we discourage folks keeping books and try to make this more of circulating library, but how strongly do others feel about that. Seemed to be varying views from previous posts.

Does that sound about right to folks? Reactions?

Gerry Magnes

Gerry, you have it spot on <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

You and I are two bookworms with favorite reading chairs <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> it may come down to you and I shipping books back and forth to one another. I have to wait for these symptoms from my lyme to subside before I can tackle a list.