My Story

About four years ago, I met a friend named John Watson.  He is a missionary living in Los Angeles, working for an organization called Inner-Change.   A bit after knowing,  John, he gathered a group of people he knew were struggling financially, and proposed an idea.  He told us about half.com and amazon, and just how reselling books could be an opportunity for us to make some extra income.

A friend of mine had told John about a thrift store that was selling over a thousand books, and he bought all the books from the store as the beginning of the groups inventory.  I started selling books since that time, and it’s been a huge blessing knowing that i can work from home or an office, and have a little income on the side.  That was the beginning for some of us as used book sellers.

Now we have a name. The Los Angeles Innerchange Book Collctive (L.A.I.B.C.). We focus in being community, not only having the business mentallity, but seeking out ways to help each other with information, or just relationship wise.  Our group has grown from 4 years ago, and they are some awesome people. Something we also look forward to is helping others with the skills we are learning.

Over the time, we have received book donations.  There was a church that donated about 3500 books.  We’ve also learned how to shop for books. Going to yardsales, book slaes from our local library branches, networking with other people, thrift stores, and through friends.

We  have made relationships with our friends from two coffe shops, Tribal Cafe, and Ollin Cafe. We have build relationship with the owners, and began to talk to them about setting book shelves with books, which people are freely welcomed to take, or make donations, or exchange.  At the same time, it teaches the community, the importance of recycling.  Specially at Ollin with the Latino community, teaching the youth of the importance of reading and the arts.

John went to a sabbatical for about a year, and during his time, he met some friends that taught him how to make handmade envelopes.  He graciously taught us how to make them as another source of income, and also a way to recycle mass produced books. Some of the books that are of no value have amazing pictures that are made into art such as envelpes or cards.

In December of 2008, a friend of John aksed for a quantity of 500 envelopes.  And we shared the work among the book collective.  It is hard work. Not anyone can sit there for a couple hours and make 100 envelopes. It was a very repetitive process, but it was hard work to be proud of.  I think it’s important to find ways to recycle things.  This world was given to us to care  for it not destroy it.  By destroying our world, we are destroying each other. I would like to heare your stories of how you recycle.

New ideas are welcomed!!! Thank you!