OT: Do any posters remember having schoolbook drives?

[Mr. Potter]

Back in the 70's and 80's, schools would have a book drive where you could purchase books at a discount.

The reason I thought of this today was at those book drives I always got The Guiness Book of World records for that year. Was curious what others got or if they remember or still have them.

Shabbat Shalom

 

[OhioLion]

Yes, Scholastic still has a “Book Fair” when cases of books are placed in a school for approximately a week.

OL

 

[Nitt1300]

Now we're burning books.

 

[Catch1lion]

Many posters are so old they remember the dead sea scroll drives.

 

[step.eng69]

Many posters are so old they remember the dead sea scroll drives.

Excellant comeback Catch1,
my "old bladder" ain't what is use to be, almost pissed myself laughing.

 

[CVLion]

Yes, Scholastic still has a “Book Fair” when cases of books are placed in a school for approximately a week.

OL

Yes, was going to say I remember ours as “Book Fairs” also… but whatever the name, I do remember them fondly. And yep, I got the Guinness Book a few times.

We would also get a monthly sheet handed out in reading class for a “Book Order” where you’d check off the books you wanted, bring in cash that the teacher collected, and a few weeks later you’d have your books. Always a joyous moment!

Another memory is one time I used some of my Book Fair money on a paperback of jokes from the publishers of Mad magazine. I successfully hid that in my room for a week or two before my mom busted me. Years later, as a dad, I would be the one buying collections of Mad reprints for my son — I practically raised him on those things

 

[OhioLion]

Yes, was going to say I remember ours as “Book Fairs” also… but whatever the name, I do remember them fondly. And yep, I got the Guinness Book a few times.

We would also get a monthly sheet handed out in reading class for a “Book Order” where you’d check off the books you wanted, bring in cash that the teacher collected, and a few weeks later you’d have your books. Always a joyous moment!

Another memory is one time I used some of my Book Fair money on a paperback of jokes from the publishers of Mad magazine. I successfully hid that in my room for a week or two before my mom busted me. Years later, as a dad, I would be the one buying collections of Mad reprints for my son — I practically raised him on those things

I forgot about the ordering in class. Good memory! Thank you.

OL

 

[91Joe95]

Pick your own endings, Splinter of the Minds Eye, and all those Han Solo adventure novels. Plus the pop up books.

 

[JoeLion]

I remember also as a side note I worked for an employer who sponsored the same at work and the employees loved them. This was in the 1990’s and it was mostly parents buying books for their school age children.

 

[manatree]

We would also get a monthly sheet handed out in reading class for a “Book Order” where you’d check off the books you wanted, bring in cash that the teacher collected, and a few weeks later you’d have your books. Always a joyous moment!

This is the format that I remember. That’s how I discovered Lloyd Alexander’s books. I bought the Guinness Book of Records every year, even after we no longer got the book drive.

 

[bdgan]

Now we're burning books.

Just the X rated ones you used to read.

 

[bdgan]

Another memory is one time I used some of my Book Fair money on a paperback of jokes from the publishers of Mad magazine

I remember getting a book of corny jokes. I don't remember getting anything educational.

 

[Ludd]

Back in the 70's and 80's, schools would have a book drive where you could purchase books at a discount.

The reason I thought of this today was at those book drives I always got The Guiness Book of World records for that year. Was curious what others got or if they remember or still have them.

Shabbat Shalom

I loved those. I got my favorite book from there as a kid, The 18th Emergency.

 

[CVLion]

I remember getting a book of corny jokes. I don't remember getting anything educational.

There were definitely lots of corny joke books, Mad-related or otherwise.

And honestly, to get a kid reading almost anything has educational value. Your mileage may vary of course.

 

[LionJim]

And honestly, to get a kid reading almost anything has educational value. Your mileage may vary of course.

100%. My parents really pushed books, I devoured them. My dad’s brother was a Jesuit who taught at Fairfield University; he specialized in Salinger. When he visited we’d have a fine old time together discussing the Glass family. You can’t put a price on that, and it’s for ever.

 

[psuro]

Book drives are like Woodstock.
If you remember them then you weren't really there.