Book Exchange
The Book Exchange, operated by the Mbabane Library Association is a project designed to make an assortment of books affordably available to a broad range of people in Swaziland.
Background information
Over 2000 books have been donated by La Booktique and La Porte Ouverte in Quebec, Canada, and we are currently organising the shipment of these books to Swaziland for the Book Exchange.
To ship the books, it will cost us about US$360 per cubic metre to get them to South Africa, plus customs clearance charges, plus transport to Swaziland. We are looking for contributions towards the shipping costs, any help would be appreciated!
Contribute to shipping costs:
Special thanks to: La Booktique La Porte Ouverte Diane Boloten Shanti Singh John Scholberg Michael Hockett Annette Thomas Lyse Beaudette Martha Lane Lindsay Hall Richard Magnus Ekhaya Properties DHL Swaziland Bruce Jameson David and Nikki Bertram |
UPDATES:
January 2012. The latest shipment of 1832 books has arrived in Swaziland, this time with far fewer problems clearing into the customs union. Thanks again to all of you who made this shipment possible. July 2011. We have already been donated a number of boxes of books for the next shipment, from both The Booktique and Porte Ouverte. It is hoped to have these ready to ship in late August or early September. December 2010. The shipment finally arrived in Swaziland, after a few hiccups with clearing agents and South African customs. September 2010. The latest shipment of 2900 books is on its way from Montreal, due to arrive in Swaziland in early November. Thanks to everyone who contributed towards this. August 2010. We have a number of boxes of books ready for shipping, and are expecting more from both La Booktique and La Porte Ouverte (www.laporteouverte.info). The aim is to send this shipment, which we are expecting to be about 40 to 50 boxes of books, in early September. March, 2010. The shipment of books arrived safely in Swaziland in December, and the response to the new stock has been excellent. In February, the Book Exchange has also donated 100 books from old stock to the Mbabane Government Hospital, to be made available to hospital patients. September, 2009. A shipment of 1913 books is now on its way to Swaziland. Thanks to all of you who contributed towards the shipping costs! We have an additional 15 boxes of books ready for the next shipment. March, 2009. The new stock of books has been very well received, with a high turnover of books since December last year. We now have three possible sources of books, in the USA and Canada, and are hoping to raise sufficient funds to arrange another shipment. December, 2008. The shipment of books donated by the Booktique has arrived safely in Swaziland. Many thanks to private individuals who contributed towards the shipping costs, as well as to DHL Swaziland who assisted with transport of the shipment from Durban at cost. In July 2008, La Book-tique in Pointe Claire, Quebec, kindly donated a number of books, so now we are looking for donations towards the cost of shipping these books to Swaziland. |
