I have a few questions and I'm hoping the forum experts have the answers.  My son recently arrived in Afghanistan at FOB SHANK and found that there is no library.  So he and his men have taken it upon themselves to start one.  His first step, of course, was to enlist the aid of his favorite English teacher and mother, me!  When he was in Iraq in 2006, he signed up on another site that sent paperback books.  I have searched the web and while I found the site, books for soldiers.com, I couldn't find operationpaperback.com. 

OK, now for the questions: Are there any other sites like these that he could sign up with (or that I can sign him as his internet use is practically nonexistent at this point)?  After I have collected books from all my family, friends, and colleagues, what is the best way to send them?  FRB, media mail or other? Should I limit it to print books or books on CD, DVDs, etc? Can these all be shipped together?  Thanks in advance for your help and advice.

Maybe he could sign up here too?

I don't know if used books are ok, but that's actually the easiest thing for me to send to anybody (I looooove books). My local goodwill has certain color tags 50% off on any given week (which makes paperbacks 75c each), and I've decided to go once a week and check just those colors. But the last two times I've been (just for example) I got about a dozen books each time. I look for authors I know and like, and books that are in good condition (although if it's an author I love, and the only "problem" with the book is excessive spine wear, I might get it anyway).

 I don't know the best way to ship them, as I haven't much experience with this. But I imagine an FRB would work fine. Especially if you use the new big one, since it's discounted to APOs. You *may* want to just do a test by seeing how many books you can fit in the large FRB (since we know how much that one costs to ship), and then put that same number of books in another box, and find out how much it would be to ship media mail (if they'll even do media mail for boxes). For that matter, if you pack them in the FRB, I wonder if a friendly postal worker might be willing to tell you how much it would cost if you were shipping that box (hypothetically/pretending that it weren't an FRB) via media mail? If you find out, please do let us know! :D

Hth,
//Mary (nissus)
 

Here's Operation Paperback:

http://www.operationpaperback.org/ 

I would love to send books, and they are relatively easy for me to find at a good price.

Pam 

Hrm, I was just poking around on the USPS website, and it *looks* like media mail is alot cheaper. Like about $6 for a 12lb box. I just plugged in some hypothetical numbers using my zip code and that of one of the contacts I picked. I'm not sure what/if any the limitations are for media mail though. Like one of the pop up windows just lists prices up to 10lbs, so I'm not sure if anything wierd happens after that. It says "For rates up to 70 pounds, see the Rates and Fees Reference." but I haven't found that yet.

//Mary (nissus)

Oh, here is the rest(all) of the info from the pop up window  (from the USPS site) about Media Mail, in case it interests anyone:

Media Mail is used for books, film, manuscripts, printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, videotapes, and computer-recorded media like CDs and diskettes. Media Mail cannot contain advertising.

The maximum size is 108 inches in combined length and distance around the thickest part.

Mark each package "Media Mail" in the postage area.
Media Mail Rates

Weight Not Over
(pounds)    Rates

1        $2.13

2        2.47

3        2.81

4        3.15

5         3.49

6         3.83

7         4.17

8         4.51

9         4.85

10         5.19

For rates up to 70 pounds, see the Rates and Fees Reference.

Hi CptDan'sMom,

I tried the link posted below for operation paperback and it said website note available.  However, I typed it in my browser and it did come up so the site is still around.

If you send me a PM with information on where to send and what types of books they are interested in receiving, and if its all males are are their females too  I will send a box or two of books.  I sell paperbacks on ebay and have boxes and boxes of paperback books that show some shelfwear but have never been read and are in good condition.  I am trying to get these out of my basement because I want to move on to selling other things on ebay so it will help me to get them out of the basement and give them something good to read at the same time.  I have science fiction, mysteries, army/war stories, romance novels, contemporary novels, some nonfiction, westerns, etc.

 Rosemary  

OOPs....I forgot to say....yes books can be shipped media and that is usually the best deal.  It takes a little longer to get there sometimes, but if they're not going anywhere in a hurry that won't matter.  CDs, DVDs, VHS, and books can all be sent media.  Magazines cannot be because they have advertising in them.  Some paperbacks have advertising in them but it is only for books made by the same company who made the book itself so that is allowed (per several postal clerks I spoke with).  I believe also Suduko and crossword puzzle books can be sent media as well. 

It is important to note that with media mail the post office has the right to open the package and they do so quite often because so many people have abused the system.  They usually open the box from the bottom so the address information on the top  of the box is not disturbed.  The fines, etc that can be imposed from sending things other than what are allowed is just not worth taking the chance.

 rosemary

 I retyped the link and it works now!

Pam 

You all may want to check out this website for free books, etc for the troops.

www.GotBooks.com/troops.

hope this will help out.

Thanks for all the help.  i did get the WWW.operationpaperback.org to work and I will check out the gotbooks.com site too.

I think this is a great use of the forum for brainstorming... and I will mention booksforsoldiers.com

I have only browsed on it and never registered but it looks like what you are looking for. Maybe someone else on here can speak from experience?  hope it helps.

CptDan'sMom Hello!

I can't speak for your local situation but I have found public libraries in my area to be a great place to find books.

The local public library sale had Lamour Western paper backs for $1 each but when I told them they were for Veterans they sold them to me for half price. I took these to the State of Nebraska Veterans home because the Veterans "love them".

Then a second library had many more Westerns for 25 cents so these I sent to my marine contact at the time.

I have sent boxes of books to APO's from the middle of the US and it was cheaper for the flat rate box due to weight and then I was mixing other items in the boxes.

The little town libraries are very understanding and have tried to help.

If they don't have a sale just ask them when or if they have some in storage that they would sell or donate.

Tell your son and his fellow soldiers, Thank You!

Thank You for taking care of out troops, door

Iwojimaseabee.........

Wow....what a great site..........I've signed up all my contacts to receive books from them.   They want to send out 25,000 books to the troops......and they pick out the books and send them FREE......(gotta love that word!!!).    Everyone.....check out the www.gotbooks.com website...........

Thanks Iwojima!!!

love and peace.......Anne Marie

yes that does look like a very good site. I am all for the re-using of stuff, ESPECIALLY in the case of books. Looks like it is based in New England, but I guess that is just where the books will be collected- they will for sure send to Iraq and Afghansitan. I'd just make sure that your contacts WANT to be recipients. (some that have a hard time getting to the mail, or some just don't care to read).

www.gotbooks.com

Just to let anyone know who will be using the www.gotbooks.com website to get books to the trooops......

1.   Yes, as just stated.....make sure your contacts want the books

2.  They just emailed me and are QUITE aware of the anysoldier.com website too...........cause she mentioned that she new to put Attn: any soldier(marine, etc) under the name.   So, I guess it isn't new to them.

3.  They will put a personal note in the pkg.  Also they ship out 100 books to each contact.

CAN'T SAY ANYTHING ELSE..........WHAT A FANTASTIC  ORGANIZATION!!!!! 

Love and peace.............Anne Marie

Glad it will work for you and all the others who will use the site!