Books as payment for event entrance?

[imperiex]

I'm sorry if this isn't the right place to post this...

I'll summarize what happened in the school meeting today with one sentence: my school needs more English language books and nobody is doing anything about it.

Which kinda sucks because I am an English teacher, and English books are hard to come by in the community my school is located (a rural area in Malaysia).

I'm not gonna bitch and whine about the inefficiency of the school admin or the district education office. It's just not my style. So I'm thinking of concrete ways to improve our book situation.

Which brings me to my question: is it a good idea to hold an event like movie showings or music performances and request English books as payment for entrance?

Back in the city (where I live) I have contacts who can make it happen; I know people who rent out sound systems, I know some good musicians and singers, and I know people who can hook me up with venues. It's just that I'm not really sure whether it's a good idea to ask people to give away a book in exchange for entrance.

I can always stage a book drive but I personally don't believe in book drives because I've never donated to one. I love my books so much. So I figured I ought to give something to people in exchange for books. The only thing I can think about is entertainment (like movies or live music).

Or should I just bake some cookies and ask people to pay for it with books? :p What do you think?

[frimble3]

I think the movie or music ideas might work better than a bakesale, because the cost of a book is closer to the cost of a ticket to an event, while a cookie is a small-ticket item.
Also, try the bookdrive. Lots of people, strangely enough, aren't really attached to their books, and would be willing to part with some for a good cause. Particularly your city friends who have easier access to books.
However, when you advertise whatever you decide on, specify what kind of books you want, condition, titles, areas of interest. I've seen the junk people 'donate' to libraries here. There's always going to be someone who dumps off musty old paperbacks and thinks he's cunningly made a profit.

[brainstorm77]

Yup. It could work. Just make sure you don't get peoples old crap dumped on you.

[Alpha Echo]

I Lots of people, strangely enough, aren't really attached to their books, and would be willing to part with some for a good cause.

Haha - yeah...I myself have a hard time letting go of books or even letting someone borrow one. But a lot of people who read are now using Kindle or the Sony reader or something and may not even be collecting books anymore, so they're probably more willing to part with them. Most people I know buy books and then pass them along to family members or friends after they read the books b/c they don't want them crowding their bookshelves.

(What then are bookshelves for? I have no idea myself, being addicted to books and afraid to part with them)

[Maryn]

I think it could work, but I echo the sentiment that you could end up with large numbers of books nobody really wants, whether they're obsolete science textbooks or vanity press romance or hard-core porn.

You'd be wise to include a clear definition of the books you want, or don't want. (The want would be easier, something like Fiction and general-interest non-fiction for teen and adult readers.) You might need to station somebody at the door to determine whether the donated book meets the general criteria, or you could end up with the 1957 World Book Encyclopedia's U-V volume.

I like the idea of one decent book for admission. I suggest you offer other items for additional books given. A coupon good for a free nonalcoholic beverage, or a cookie, entry into a raffle for a (donated) prize of some sort, a chance to meet the band if you give five.

Maryn, who gives away a fair number of books and still has too many