Forum Topic

Acton Central station book swap is empty - please help

Husband tells me there is nothing there - I am working in town and can't help - plus I have run out of donated books.So could someone pop some in?Novels, children's and popular factual are particularly popular.But, frankly, this is not time to be picky...

Sara Nathan ● 4875d58 Comments

Will put some in this morning......

Ellie Rose ● 4875d

Wow, my husband put loads of books there about 2 or 3 weeks back.  I do wish people would put them back.

Angela White ● 4875d

Thanks Ellie!Angela,So do I! I have gone through myself - or given to other donors - 2,000 labels and thus books since last July. Plus there have been many other donations. So there are a lot of books in circulation somewhere.As long as they are not going into landfill and someone wants them, that's good.But it could be better with mor returns

Sara Nathan ● 4875d

Yes it's better than landfill that's for sure - I just wonder if a book dealer is taking them?  I object to lugging them down to the station if that's the case and would rather give to charity.Does anyone else have a positive experience of these books being useful out there?  Hope so!

Angela White ● 4875d

Oh yes - lots of people have mentioned to me that they have borrowed books - and some that they have returned them. And I have seen really quite a few looking at the books. there's someone at least half the times I go through the station.Plus the station staff love it - people are more smiley and friendly and engage them in conversation about the bookswap.There was someone seen in the early days who took books in bulk but no suggestion of it since then. And the staff keep an eye out.The new charity shop in Churchfield Road is turning away books art the moment - just not enough room to store all that are offered. They say they will start putting their spares on the shelf soon. At the moment they are too busy to get off the treadmill.

Sara Nathan ● 4875d

It's feeling much better now thanks.And I have identified one of the problems: a middle aged Irishman, possibly called David. Apparently, he goes over to the station early each morning, abstracts a load of Metros and some books and then goes to the cafe and elsewhere and tries to distribute them. He is, I'm told, unusual.The cafe people say they have asked him to stop and will again.On the upside, Streetbank has come up with a lady called Jean who wants to donate her huge Virago, green-backed novel collection. I am very excited!

Sara Nathan ● 4873d

Could someone please enlighten me about the book swap?  I've heard a bit about it on here, but I've never seen it myself and I do have books that need new homes...is it just a case of taking some along and leaving them, or do they need to be labelled/handed over to someone?Thanks (from my bookcases too, which are on the verge of collapse & could do with a break!)

Cas Baker ● 4873d

It's your choice - depending on how many you have!Of course, just wander along and put them on the shelves. But if you have a couple of boxes or more, then DM me and we can arrange for you to drop them off or I will pick them up. I label the ones I put out - and often leave some labels with the ticket office too.People do tend to place quite a lot on Saturdays - so another day of the week would be great - can get a bit sparse by Friday I've noticed.

Sara Nathan ● 4873d

What a great idea to put labels on them - that may deter sellers taking them I suppose and remind readers where to put them back.

Angela White ● 4873d

I've been doing it since the start and it has had no marked effect so far, but I live in hope.Picked up 150 novels this morning,so will be feeding those in

Sara Nathan ● 4873d

All probably taken for resale...as are the bags of clothes placed out for collection..............

Dee Cook ● 4871d

Have you tried reselling books Doris? On Amazon they get about a penny a volume, at the charity shop it may be 10 -25 pence - and they have more than they can sell.I don't think - from what the station staff say - that many are going out in more than ones and two to people who want them. But don't often/always bring them back.And if they are going onto the bookshelf of someone who would otherwise have no books in their home, that's fine too.I think we just have one problem individual - and even he is not selling them but pressing them upon strnagers and shop-keepers.

Sara Nathan ● 4871d

Hi SaraWhere do I put them I have loads of books that I have been stock piling I was gonna take them to the charity shop but have not got round to it?

Diana Oneill ● 4871d

I wonder if the approach of loading up the shelves en masse actually encourages people to rush in and take more than they need given the large choice at that point?Perhaps a drip feed approach to stocking the shelves could be adopted /tried?It's such a great addition to the area, and I'm sure a lot of work for poor Sarah to manage, so I don't want to suggest anything that might cause more work ~(even though I perhaps just did)!Carl

Carl Tamboli ● 4871d

CarlI drip feed mostly...but it depends on whether people turn up and donate. And if you have wandered down, very kindly with a bag of books, you don't want to take them home again.We tend to get loads on a Saturday but it can be thin by Wednesday.For larger donations, I encourage people to drop them at my house - or I go and pick them up. Somebody is coming this evening with five bags for example. Just as well darling daughter has left home as her bedroom is now the book store for the swap.

Sara Nathan ● 4871d

I'm in this evening - another kind donor s dropping off. Would you like to bring them here - or I can pick them up after the other donors have been.Would you like to DM me with details?Many thanks

Sara Nathan ● 4871d

Having just taken our books out of storage after12 months I will replenish this weekend .... Not sure anyone will be delighted by my choice but it will fill he shelves

Peter Truesdale ● 4871d

Thanks Peter.And a combination of Streetbank and this site means I now have STACKS of books - enough for several months I would hope.And some real treasures in there too.So I am really grateful to people on both sites.

Sara Nathan ● 4870d

thanks for the reply Sarah, I think you're doing a fantastic job with the book swap (although perhaps it should be renamed as the book keep)?Again, not looking to add to the workload, but do you think having some kind of stamp "PROPERTY OF ACTON BOOK SWAP - PLEASE RETURN" that could be stamped along the outside of the pages might encourage people to return them, or perhaps a hard to remove sticker on the front cover saying the same thing might help?Regards, Carl

Carl Tamboli ● 4870d

Carl a good idea about the book stamp.That will ensure that those who try and purchase them will be aware of their origin.

Dee Cook ● 4870d

It will also be a reminder and conscience tugger!

Philippa Bond ● 4870d

All the books I put out have a sticker on the inside front page. And other regular donors have a stock too.Should I put them on the outside maybe?

Sara Nathan ● 4869d

Sara. When I was bagging up some books today raedy to take to the stand, I decided to put the stickers on the front covers of the book.....Lets see how that goes. They do stand out a lot more.......

Ellie Rose ● 4869d

Great stsart, but stickers can be peeled off, whereas a stamp i think carries a bit more weight and may help to guilt people into returning them.I'm happy to contribute towards the cost of buyins a stamp if sarah thinks it will help.Carl

Carl Tamboli ● 4869d

It would definitely deter people on the whole, I think.

Angela White ● 4869d

It's not the cost but the hassle....Would you like to research it Carl? Would we need at least a couple (Ellie is the big stockist apart from me)We couldn't leave it at the station as anything loose vanishes really quickly.

Sara Nathan ● 4869d

Sure, I'll look into it Sarah. I know Staples in Park Royal sell the stamps themselves - just got to to work out how to get the narrative on it.Leave it to me.Carl

Carl Tamboli ● 4869d

Hi Sarah, loksl ike this will do it. It's a self inking stamp. I just buy it and fill the voucher ouot then just send off the wordking i want and it comes back in 5 days.http://www.staples.co.uk/pens-tape-desk-supplies/stamps/self-inking-stamps/custom-self-inking-printer-15-stampI was thinking " PROPERTY OF ACTON BOOK SWAP - PLEASE RETURN" (assuming I can get that much in the wording.If you're happy with that I'll by it at the weekend when I get the chance to pop in  - I'm happy to donate this to the Bookclub efforts.Regards, Carl

Carl Tamboli ● 4869d

*Buy it even*!

Carl Tamboli ● 4869d

I have had some stamps made by www.stampsdirect.co.ukVery quick and easy and you can choose the size of the stamp.I got self-inking ones - they work well.Anna

Anna John ● 4869d

Wow - very generous of you, Carl.  Acton Central is on the map - it has its own stamp!

Angela White ● 4869d

Thanks Anna, I've ordered it from the site you suggested.Sarah, it should be with me Saturday or perhaps Monday. Can you PM your address and I'll pop it in to you, or you can pop into mine on Goldmsith Road - I see you furiously cycling up my road from time to time, so assume it's on your route?Regards, Carl

Carl Tamboli ● 4869d

Many thanks Carl - have PMed you.I stuck the first labels on the front this morning. Makes you look at cover designs in a whole new way.

Sara Nathan ● 4869d

Several people need a stamp for this to work, poor Sara can't do it alone; at least that is my opinion.

Audrey Walton ● 4869d

Lets look on this in light of a pilot.If one stamp works, maybe we'll get others for loaning out or regular donors.But if the stamp doesn't produce a clear image on the cover - or it makes no difference, we'd kick ourselves for getting several.It's all looking very full at the moment so either people are giving more, people are returning them, David the irishman has given up removing them or the sticker on the outside works. But we have no control so we don't know!

Sara Nathan ● 4868d

Agreed Sarah, let's see how this one works.As I said before I wonder if you'll be able to stamp down the outside of the pages down the opposide side to the spine? I would also suggest you stamp inside the front cover. I think this is a suck it and see kind of exercise while we work out the most effective way of getting soe of the books back.Regards, Carl

Carl Tamboli ● 4868d

Hi Audrey, if Sarah's stamp demo at the weekend works, I'll send you the link, where you can buy further stamps.Regards, Carl

Carl Tamboli ● 4868d

So the stamp has arrived - thanks Carl - but it's minuscule (which is why it was good to get just one.)If you are minded to get one, about three sizes bigger would be good!

Sara Nathan ● 4867d

Sarah, I'd like to think of it as more "compact" :)Yes it is very small. Not to say it can't be used inside some of the covers perhaps?Let's see how yours ticker approach works.Can't recall what you said they cost Sarah, but found this site and they have perm adhesive ones that can't easily be peeled off:http://www.aalabels.com/Products-of-T95-4+Multipurpose+Labels+per+A4+sheet+++155+mm+x+70+mm.htmlRegards, Carl

Carl Tamboli ● 4865d

At least it fits in my handbag (always look on the bright side of ledge tra la)The ones I get ate £48 per thousand - didn't seem bad to me.And have just got my third thousand. But may look..

Sara Nathan ● 4865d

Sarah out of interest who funds this - hopefully not all you? If so, we should pass the hat around.Carl

Carl Tamboli ● 4865d

My husband dropped off about twenty books yesterday. says he filled the shelves.

Thea Buchan ● 4865d

Fantastic! Thanks so much.And I now have loads of stock AND a stamp.Who could ask for anything more?

Sara Nathan ● 4864d

If only everyone was as easily pleased Sarah!Carl

Carl Tamboli ● 4863d

Took half a dozen along today and the shelves looked pretty full againAlso popped in to the new charity shop and noticed that have a big bookcase full of books. Plenty reading for the train then. But why don't people bring the books back sometime?

Maire Lowe ● 4863d

I think some do, maybe others havent got books at home and would like some - which is fine. Or they leave them somewhere else - quite a few pubs have bookswaps too.Anything but landfill (and profiteering) is fine by me.The CAPE shop has more books than they can cope with and say they may contribute some. A notice on their door says they can't take any more!

Sara Nathan ● 4863d

Sarah, could they not take any books donated and simply pass them onto us? Or they could put a sign us suggesting people leave them at Acton Central instead.Seems a missed opportunity somehow.Carl

Carl Tamboli ● 4862d

I've asked them to do both!And they did take a sticker...But they were still running to catch up so it may not be top of their list

Sara Nathan ● 4862d

Great - as always Sarah,you're one step ahead!Carl

Carl Tamboli ● 4862d

Anyone a Flashman fan?It looks like the complete set has been donated and the shelves are heaving with all sorts of interesting stuff including the latest Robert Harris, some Artemis Fowl and other children's and even one book of poems.I'm stuck with Proust for the foreseeable future (but can't remember which optimistic/foolhardy member of the bookclub suggested it!)

Sara Nathan ● 4862d

Fantastic news. Robert Harris is a great favourite.

Maire Lowe ● 4862d

I can't remember either, Sara, but I know it wasn't me! I'm 30% of the way through. Can't guarantee to finish in the next fortnight.

Susan Kelly ● 4862d

Over 200 pages in - which is two thirds of volume one.D get some funny looks in the train as I work my way down two pages, mouthing to myself as I hunt for a fullstop.NOT inspired to try madeleines dipped in weak tea.

Sara Nathan ● 4861d

It looked very empty yesterday,The Cape chsrity shop have been helping a bit, but not so recently.I have run out of space to hold stock as ALL of daughter's possessions have come home. So I don't have many.So if you have some, borrowed from the station shop or just your own and no longer needed, please do bustle down and leave them on the shelves

Sara Nathan ● 4719d

Have 5 bags of books here ready to go......Will drop them down there later.

Ellie Rose ● 4719d

Done.....

Ellie Rose ● 4719d

Ellie - you are a total starI hope the readers of Acton salute you!

Sara Nathan ● 4718d

Have just finished my last box of donated books which I keep to top up the bookswap at Acton Central station.Would anyone like to donate either directly down there or DM me and I can store a couple of boxes and feed them in.The station staff often have the sticky labels if you want to put those on - and I will replenish.Many thanks( oh and I actually saw someone cycle up yesterday - specifically to return a book she had borrowed - so many thanks to the lady on the bike!)

Sara Nathan ● 4383d