If you participate in the Twitter book community, you may have noticed a new hashtag going around recently: #bookishwish. What is it? Who can participate? What are the rules? Don't worry—even if it looks intimidating at first, this new hashtag is a distillation of all the kindness and generosity the bookish community has to offer, and it's very easy to join in the fun!
HOW DID IT START?
Julianne Daly (@DailyJulianne) sent out a tweet asking her followers: what's a book you're dying to get a copy of, but haven't been able to?
The tweet quickly took off, with over 300 replies from bookworms trying to hunt down upcoming review copies, foreign editions, or even simply backlist titles they haven't had room in their budget for. Whether you were a collector trying to find that last gem, or a teen whose reading habits were more expansive than their budget, everyone was chiming in with their own wish list and helping to check off items on others'.
And, understandably...Julie's notifications blew up. After a few days, she and Ally (@allyabe22) came up with a solution that would keep the wishes flowing, but save her notifications. That solution? The hashtag #bookishwish, meant to function similarly to the book trading tags on Twitter, but without the necessity of swapping or paying for the books changing hands.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Anyone, anywhere! Julie's original tweet may explicitly reference readers who aren't fortunate enough to have reliable access to any book they might want to read, but her call for wish lists and the #bookishwish tag aren't exclusionary in the slightest. No matter what books you're having difficulty getting or why they're so hard for you to get, the only purpose of the tag is to connect those searching for a book with those capable of giving it to them. That's it, it's that simple ♥
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
Let's be clear: there are no rules to #bookishwish! You don't have to live in a particular country, you don't have to have specific editions or ARCs, and you don't have to grant wishes in order to receive them, or vice versa. As I said above: anyone can participate. That's the beauty of the tag!
Whether you're looking to fulfill some wishes or hoping to have them granted, though, there are a few tips and tricks that should help things proceed smoothly:
- DO: Make it clear what country you live in. Shipping internationally can add up quickly; sending a package overseas with USPS usually costs a minimum of $25, depending on the size and final destination. Some, but not all, bookish fairy godmothers can take on that expense, but no one wants to wind up having to back out of a gift because of shipping costs. When in doubt, ask, and try to include it in your wish list tweet if you can. To help international readers there are already several sub-tags, including: #bookishwishph (Philippines), #ukbookishwish (UK)...(I know there are at least a couple more, if anyone wants to chime in in the comments!)
- DON'T: Treat the tag like another buy/sell/trade group. No one "owns" a Twitter tag, just like no one can tell you what to do with the books you own. But the spirit of Julie's original tweet and the tag that grew out of it was to connect readers in need with those in a position to give. If you're able to mutually swap books on one another's wish lists or can afford to cover the cost of shipping, that's great! Definitely feel free to offer it as an option. But please don't automatically assume that someone is in the position to trade or purchase a book from you, since many (but not all) users on this particular tag are participating because they lack access in one way or another to the books they'd like to read. If you're really looking to trade or sell your books, there are Twitter tags as well as groups on Facebook and Goodreads that can connect you with potential swap partners!
- DO: Ship via Media Mail if you live in the US and are sending a book domestically. This is far and away the cheapest option for shipping books (or movies, magazines, and CDs) within the United States. The cost is calculated by weight, with one paperback book usually totaling out around $3. Just tell the clerk at the post office that you want to ship via Media Mail and they'll get you all set up. Also, you use your own packing supplies for Media Mail—don't use a Priority or Express envelope! If you plan on fulfilling a lot of wishes out of your own library, Amazon has good deals on bulk packages of bubble envelopes, and you can usually find them at the dollar store as well.
- DO: Package your books carefully. Snug fitting bubble mailers are my packaging of choice for shipping books. Too much room between the book and the sides of the envelope, and you increase the chance of it tearing during transit. Some people like to wrap their books in bubble wrap, then place them in a padded envelope for extra protection, but I've personally never had problems with using only a padded envelope. And make sure you've sealed your package well! No one wants to send a full package, only to have it arrive empty because the tape didn't stick.
- DON'T: Be afraid to mention if you're a teen/#ownvoices/disadvantaged reader. Some givers scrolling the tag are specifically hoping to put books in the hands of #ownvoices readers, teens (and adults) who might not have a steady income/allowance to buy books, or readers without reliable access to a public library. But they can't know that's your situation unless you speak up! It's totally okay to give a reason behind your desire to own a particular book, as long as you're comfortable sharing it.
- DO: Remember that Book Depository ships internationally. Itching to fulfill the wishes of some international readers, but can't afford the shipping costs? If you see wish lists that include finished copies, take a moment to check and see if Book Depository has that title in stock. They ship to most countries around the world and have both new and old titles. The best part is: shipping is always free! They're a great option for sending paperbacks internationally, for only a little more than the cost of Media Mail shipping in the US.
- DO: Share a tracking number if you can. This habit of mine is a spillover from book trading, but I still think it's a nice courtesy to extend. If you're granting a wish either by ordering a book or shipping it yourself, pass along a tracking number after that package is in the mail. That way both sender and recipient are able to make sure their precious cargo arrives as expected.
The most important tip is this: be kind and be communicative. It's been such a joy these last few days watching Julie's tweet and the #bookishwish tag infuse the reading community with so much happiness. If you have the means and opportunity, I highly encourage you to peruse the tag and see if there are any wishes you can fill. And if you're one of those hoping to have a wish granted, I want to wish you the best of luck! I hope a fairy godmother—fairy bookmother, maybe?—visits you soon ♥
Have you seen the #bookishwish tag on Twitter? Have you participated, either by making or granting wishes?
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