How to Start a Book Swap Society
Thank you for your interest in starting a Book Swap Society! If there isn’t already a society local to you, then we’re excited to guide you through the process of launching your own society.
How Being a Host Works:
Book Swap Societies are run by volunteers (being a volunteer, you are not entitled to any compensation at this time) who commit to hosting book swap events once a month in their city. We feel once a month is best, however the minimum requirement is four events per year. As a host, you’ll be responsible for finding a venue, scheduling the meetup, welcoming attendees, and distributing leftover books into your community. PERKS: You're in control! You decide when and where the events take place. You get the first pick of all the books people bring to swap. You'll receive a host welcome package.
How Do The Book Swap Events Work?
$5 per person to attend. All book genres are welcome, usually a 2-hour time slot
Step 1: Please bring at least 1 book to participate, you’re welcome to bring more if able
Step 2: Check in with the host and lay out your books on the designated tables
Step 3: Browse through other people’s books
Step 4: You may take home up to (x) books per person - # of books depends varies by city
Step 5: Mingle with fellow book lovers and support the venue
Step 6: The leftover books get circulated back into future Book Swap events and donated to Little Free Libraries around the community
Steps to Launch Your Society:
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Select Your Location:
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Check our website to see if there’s already a society near you. While we’re happy to support multiple societies in a city, you might find a nearby society where you can volunteer as a co-host. If you’re interested, email us at info@bookswapsociety.com to connect with local hosts.
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Name Your Society:
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Your society’s name must include "Book Swap Society" to be listed on our network and website. It should be structured as follows: [Location] Book Swap Society
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Examples: Denver Book Swap Society or Wilmington Book Swap Society
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We’ll provide you with a custom logo for your local society.
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Register Your Society:
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Submit your location through our website to have your society added to our map, a page created, and events added.
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Find a Co-Host: Consider recruiting a co-host either before you launch or among early regulars. A co-host can help broaden your reach and provide backup if needed.
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Create Your Society’s Social Media Page/Pages: (this step is optional)
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Provide a public link to your society's social media pages. This can be a social media page (like a Facebook group or Instagram profile) or an event site such as MeetUp. Make sure it’s easy for attendees to lead them to your society's page on our site to buy tickets for events.
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Schedule Your First Event:
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Select a location for your inaugural event. Book Swap Societies vary by community: some meet in cafes or bars, others in bookstores, libraries, or parks, depending on the weather. Set a date and time, and invite a few friends. Always try to have a few events scheduled for the future. This way, if someone can’t make the first one, they can plan to attend another. Let us know the date, time, and location of your upcoming events and we'll get them added to your page.
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We look forward to seeing your society thrive!