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'?