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Luath



Joined: 03 Dec 2009
Posts: 761

PostPosted: Mon Jan 20, 14 8:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

By the by, here in Dorset if you request a book online and ask for it to be delivered via the mobile library there is no charge at all.

derbyshiredowser



Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 980
Location: derbyshire
PostPosted: Mon Jan 20, 14 8:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Scarthin books at Cromford exceptionally cramped but the sort of place you can spend all day in, very funny notes pinned to the book shelves

https://www.scarthinbooks.com/

Cathryn



Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion
PostPosted: Wed Jan 29, 14 7:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I have just spent the afternoon with a group of volunteers rearranging the bookshop. Nothing major although I would love some new display stuff because Oxfam keeps it's admin costs down to 15% and we are a part of making sure that it stays that low.

I live and work locally for Oxfam. We take donations of books, music, lots of interesting things, a high proportion of which are donated by people to Oxfam because they believe in the work that Oxfam does across the world. I have a duty to them to sell their donated items for a reasonable sum. I have a duty to the people that Oxfam help to make as much as I can from these goods. Oxfam has a minimum pricing policy and then it is up to me as the manager to set what I consider a reasonable price. As I said, I live locally, I have a background in bookselling so I know what I'm doing (mostly) and I know my market. Over the last year both sales and donations have increased, if they had fallen I would think again.

I have a good financially useful relationship with the second hand bookshop in town and with several other dealers over quite a wide area.

I am the only paid member of staff. I work with volunteers of all kinds, some need to add layers to their cv. I make sure they can add useful skills. Everyone is encouraged to do as much as they can in the shop and there are virtually no exceptions to this.

The work we do in the shop supports me and a great many other individuals across the world. This is measurable in a rough kind of way. I did a sum as a way of thanking the volunteers for their work that covered just three months. It's a bit rough and ready but you can get the gist of it.

"Once upon a time…

…fifty families were just about hanging on, scratching a living from an arid bit of land…and then you all came along, Oxfam volunteers, sorting, pricing, selling all the books and music. Turning all the great donations into money! (Thank you all you wonderful donors!)
Thanks to you giving your time you provided :

Safe water for all five hundred people - £500
Each family planted an allotment - £1200
Their farming skills were improved and the village now has:
Twenty goats - £500
Ten sheep - £250
Lots of chickens - £200
Two people even trained to be beekeepers - £25
You provided the village with green energy three solar panels
- £100
All the children in the village had a health check - £2400
and mosquito nets were provided for them all - £2800
Then you trained four teachers - £108
Provided school kits for two hundred children - £1600
You sorted out a clean water supply and explained the importance of health and hygiene for their wonderful school - £1,670

And there was still £1000 spare! That built 25 emergency toilets for the Philippines or if you want to look at it another way you helped set up 25 cocoa farmers and 25 tea growers that now nearly manage to provide the shop with our tea and biscuits!

And that’s just in three months! You’re amazing, thank you!"

Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Wed Jan 29, 14 7:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

25 tea growers to support one shop?

You drink far too much tea.

Ps, yes, there is such a thing as too many cups of tea.
Pps. Well done.

sean
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Wed Jan 29, 14 7:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Good going. How do you feel about work experience school kids?

Cathryn



Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion
PostPosted: Wed Jan 29, 14 7:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I love having school kids there. They're great fun. Most of them are incredibly bright and come up with some great ideas. They are also used to being told what to do. Not a luxury I can use with some other volunteers.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Thu Jan 30, 14 7:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Sounds like you are doing good work. Nice when you can see a result from your labours.

madcat



Joined: 24 May 2008
Posts: 1265
Location: worcester
PostPosted: Thu Jan 30, 14 10:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Well done all.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Fri Jan 31, 14 4:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I am very impressed, I always thought of Oxfam as being a top heavy organisation. I appear to be wrong, and will give next time round in Sainsbury's foyer!

Cathryn



Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion
PostPosted: Fri Jan 31, 14 5:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

That is a really nice thing to say and has cheered me up no end, thank you.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45374
Location: yes
PostPosted: Mon Feb 03, 14 5:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

a good selection of obscure /academic /rare books will make me spend and revisit

if these are well selected a few shelves of "goodies" will attract trade with cash

the huddersfield oxfam books might have some helpful advice

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