Just to let everyone know/reminder, you can ship books to the troops via Media Mail, and it is fairly inexpensive.  I shipped over a doz paperbacks and it was less than $5.  Just make sure you're not using the priority boxes.  I found almost 200 books at a yardsale for $25 and they looked brand new, had only been read once.  Also I get books from paperbackswap, so a DM is looking for a specific book, or author, I can get it free, or almost free.  Sometimes the PO will say you can send to APOs via media mail, but insist on it, they can't not let you.

Note that you need to use your own boxes/tape (not Priority) if you want to send either Parcel Post or Media Mail.  You also can't mix other things with the books and still use media mail.

cj/

Magazines don't count as MediaMail (i found this out too late). And you can't include a letter if sending Media Mail.

I like to tuck a couple of paperbacks (escapist thrillers/mysteries) into the snack or hygiene boxes I send. I can get gently used books at my library for 3/$1 (donated books I think).