+hometeachin Posted July 2, 2005 Share Posted July 2, 2005 Hi all! I did do a search about what cachers deem acceptable/unacceptable in a cache. I get the hint that McToys are evil (even though my dd would love the mini beanies or a little collectable doll they had given out) and that you should trade up. With that in mind, what about used books/novels? I generally buy my novels/fluff books at used bookstores, because I don't care if they have that "new book smell" or if they are crisp. I read 'em once, then pass them along. So, what about putting one as a trade in a cache--all pages intact, sometimes a bit rumpled. I read about this site that tracks books that you leave with a card inside...I can't remember the site name or I would do that as well. I know there are some caches specifically geared toward books, but I am asking if it is tacky to leave Timeline or The Aquitine Progression or such in a regular cache. We would also leave something else, because my 6 yo daughter loves to trade--and trades good stuff. Thanks! Quote Link to comment
+BlueDeuce Posted July 2, 2005 Share Posted July 2, 2005 (edited) Okay by me. Edited July 2, 2005 by BlueDeuce Quote Link to comment
+Evil Homer Posted July 2, 2005 Share Posted July 2, 2005 As long as its nothing deemed "offensive" by the masses its perfectly fine. I think books are great trade items, too bad i don't get to find any around here... I might just hide a cache with a books only theme... Evil Homer Quote Link to comment
+the hermit crabs Posted July 2, 2005 Share Posted July 2, 2005 I think that would be a great trade item -- if it were me, I'd put the book in a ziplock, since a lot of caches tend to get a little damp or musty. Quote Link to comment
+Happy Bubbles Posted July 2, 2005 Share Posted July 2, 2005 I read about this site that tracks books that you leave with a card inside...I can't remember the site name or I would do that as well. http://www.bookcrossing.com A wonderful game! I love finding Bookcrossing books left in random places. Quote Link to comment
+hometeachin Posted July 2, 2005 Author Share Posted July 2, 2005 http://www.bookcrossing.com A wonderful game! I love finding Bookcrossing books left in random places. That's it!!! Thanks!!! I googled 'till my fingers turned blue and couldn't come up with the site. Ziplocs---great idea. Quote Link to comment
+fly46 Posted July 2, 2005 Share Posted July 2, 2005 When in doubt, ask... There are quite a few Bookcrossing Caches. Quote Link to comment
+hometeachin Posted July 2, 2005 Author Share Posted July 2, 2005 http://www.bookcrossing.com A wonderful game! I love finding Bookcrossing books left in random places. That's it!!! Thanks!!! I googled 'till my fingers turned blue and couldn't come up with the site. Ziplocs---great idea. Soooo is it unethical to put a bookcrossing book in a geocache? Then it is only for the population of geocachers, not the general pop, so not a true cross-section? I believe geocachers would be more apt to log in the book though, since we log in our caches. Thanks again for the link! Quote Link to comment
+fishfam Posted July 2, 2005 Share Posted July 2, 2005 We would love to find more books in caches. don't forget kid books too. We found one Nancy Drew and my 11yo son snatched that up. He rarely takes things because things are generally too young or too old for him. But books in ziplocs are great. Even if they are used. Quote Link to comment
+BlueDeuce Posted July 2, 2005 Share Posted July 2, 2005 (edited) Soooo is it unethical to put a bookcrossing book in a geocache? From their website: "Go Hunting Hunt for books the BookCrossing way - below is the list of countries with books in the wild! After registering and releasing a book, members have the option of making Release Notes, specifying where exactly (or approximately) they left a book." They don't seem to be as uptight as the Where's George folks, so I'd say yeah, geocaches are A OK. Share a book, that's their main objective. Edited July 2, 2005 by BlueDeuce Quote Link to comment
+GatoRx Posted July 2, 2005 Share Posted July 2, 2005 While not devoted specifically to BookCrossing books, there are other caches with specific instructions to only trade a book for a book. Just think - an ammo can in the woods filled with nothing but books others have read. I found one that had ziploc bags devoted to certain genres (one for mysteries, one for romance novels, one for kids books, etc - a total of nine categories if I remember correctly.) Quote Link to comment
+ibycus Posted July 2, 2005 Share Posted July 2, 2005 The only thing I'd have a problem with is if the book took up all of the space in the cache. I'd love to find an interesting book in a cache, but most of the caches I visit around here are too small (typically peanut butter jars, or the like). Quote Link to comment
+hometeachin Posted July 2, 2005 Author Share Posted July 2, 2005 They don't seem to be as uptight as the Where's George folks, so I'd say yeah, geocaches are A OK. I do Where's George, too--just not as much as I used to. That thought is where my question originated, b/c they really don't want WG $ in caches. I thought it would be cool, but I guess I understand and will respect the wishes of the founder. Thanks! Quote Link to comment
+picciano Posted July 3, 2005 Share Posted July 3, 2005 (edited) A while back I put a bookcrossing.com book into my first (well, only) cache. It ended up turning a bookcrossing.com addict into a geocacher. Yup, he went out and bought a GPSr just to find the book... Edited July 3, 2005 by picciano Quote Link to comment
+Ladybug Kids Posted July 3, 2005 Share Posted July 3, 2005 Sure! In fact, there are caches devoted to used book exchanges like this one in Anchorage, Alaska: Coastal Trail Book Exchange Quote Link to comment
+hometeachin Posted July 3, 2005 Author Share Posted July 3, 2005 Thanks! I am putting a couple into my pack, so I will leave them in an ammo box that has room or at Starbucks where I have a mid-caching pick-me-up! (Or bribe for my 14 yo daughter to come caching with me! ) Quote Link to comment
+reveritt Posted July 3, 2005 Share Posted July 3, 2005 Used books in caches are perfectly acceptable. I do bookcrossing, too, and have left bookcrossing-registered books in caches. Quote Link to comment
Azaruk Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 (edited) We have recently placed our first book cache - "Springside Library" - which has already been found and books traded. The container is large enough for 6 to 8 paperbacks or smallish hard-cover books. We look forward to going to 'raid' our own cache soon when the books have been exchanged - could be some hat we haven't read yet! This is one cache I don't mind doing the maintenance on! Edited July 6, 2005 by Azaruk Quote Link to comment
RandLD Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 There are two book-only caches on my alma mater's campus. Great caches, and not all of the books were brand new. As several have said before, use Zip-Loc bags. I've also found books in other caches. I personally like them, even if they are "used". (Besides, how many McToys, trinkets, and other things people leave as swag are used?) Quote Link to comment
+Hoppingcrow Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Books in Pacific Northwest caches tend to absorb moisture no matter what type of container they're put in, or how well they're wrapped. However, I did enjoy one particular find: a pocket dictionary of Spanish medical phrases. Not only did it help me learn a few new words in Spanish, I was able to pass it along to a friend who works at the front desk of a medical center which has a number of Latino (-a) clients. I think I'd put that book on my Top Ten Swag Items list! Quote Link to comment
Team GeoSpeedy Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 I'm still not sure how used books are ok but CDs are bad What if it's a book on CD? -p Quote Link to comment
+Ladybug Kids Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 CDs are perfectly fine as long as they are not illegal copies. There are at least two CD exchange caches up here in Alaska including ours: Arboreal Off The Bike Path and one in Anchorage. Quote Link to comment
+flannelman Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Sounds like a great idea to me!! I love to read and finding books would be a great find to me. My problem is that I like to hang on to too many books!! Quote Link to comment
+Onslow Fisherman Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 Recently I set up a new cache site and have included some used paperback books as "book swap" items. The cache has been visited four time, only twice recorded on the web site. So far no one has done a book swap, I live in hope. Quote Link to comment
+Team Rowdy Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 Aprilbapryll did a great article on this Bookcrossing Meets Geocaching. Check it out! C Quote Link to comment
+Ambrosia Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 Sounds like a great idea to me!! I love to read and finding books would be a great find to me. My problem is that I like to hang on to too many books!! I've been sick for about 5 months, so I've been getting mindless drivel ( ) paper backs at Goodwill to entertain my non-functuning brain. I've been wondering what to do with these loads of books that were fine, but I don't really need more books, so what to do? We have two floor to ceiling bookcases in our living room, and two more of the same downstairs, as well as numerous other smaller bookcases throughout the house. I think that I'm gonna go out and hide an ammo can very soon. Thanks for the idea, all! Quote Link to comment
+Ambrosia Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 Aprilbapryll did a great article on this Bookcrossing Meets Geocaching. Check it out! C Wow, that's great to read April's story on how she got started! Quote Link to comment
+DaveA Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 I just wanted to say 'thank you' for mentioning bookcrossing.com in this thread. I hadn't heard of it previously and I recently went out and placed my first book registered with bookcrossing.com in a cache this past weekend. I noticed that under the links section at that site geocaching.com is linked. That is pretty cool of them. wheresgeorge is cool too, but they frown upon using geocaches as a dispersement mechanism whereas bookcrossing.com encourages it. Let's face it, leaving a used book in a cache tops 99.9% of the crap that is normally left in a cache so I don't see how the merging of the two can be anything but positive. Quote Link to comment
+hometeachin Posted July 8, 2005 Author Share Posted July 8, 2005 Cool, cool! I have a few books I have registered now, just awaiting the right cache with the right amt of room (and a ziplock or two...I keep forgetting!). Thanks for the article, too! I was just concerned that people would be offended because the book was used---I can see that others see like I do--a used book reads the same as a new one, only you can read more used for the price! I am excited about it...I hope to get one in this weekend. I know of some ammo can caches that I have already found. Maybe I can do a drop in one of those?!? Jenn in AZ Quote Link to comment
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