Murcia – Spain

LIBROS TRAPEROS

Key areas

Region/country

THE CONTEXT OF YOUR INITIATIVE

In 2015, a social work student on placement suggested increasing our association’s second-hand book sales by creating a webpage to sell them online, promoting initiatives and agreements with other bodies in the Murcia region to make it easier to donate books and bring greater visibility to this project. Traperos de Emaús approved setting up this initiative to take advantage of the possibility of connecting more widely with the general public in the region, to increase sales and bring visibility in a friendly and simple way.

THE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT AS PART OF YOUR INITIATIVE

In 2015, we started building a database of the most interesting bibliographical collections held by the association. In December 2016, the website librostraperos.com was set up and online sales began. In February 2017, an agreement was signed with the University of Murcia to set up book donation points in the university libraries. In October 2017, an agreement was signed with Murcia city council to set up book donation points in municipal libraries. Throughout 2017 and 2018, up to 8 mobile bookshops were set up to test the public’s response to a physical book sale. In November 2018, the bookshop was opened in the city centre. During 2018, 2019 and 2020 over 80 cultural activities took place to attract people to the bookshop and help them find out more about the association. In 2020, due to the pandemic, the cultural activities were moved to an outside space near the bookshop, the Urban Garden of Santa Eulalia.

WHO IS INVOLVED FROM OUR GROUP?

The entire collection and management team has been involved, as well as the sales team. Our administration and communication teams also supported the bookshops’ work.

WHICH PARTNERS ARE YOU WORKING WITH ON THIS INITIATIVE?

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Approx. 19,000 books sold
90 cultural activities (book presentations, debates, etc.)
4,000 attend our cultural activities
12 volunteers involved
3 jobs

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANY INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR INITIATIVE?

WHAT ARE YOUR PROSPECTS?

Leased premises, with electricity, water, telephone and internet contracts.
Staff (3 new positions)
A larger space to manage second-hand books at the Las Ramos centre
Increased book collection work
Advertising materials (bookmarks, leaflets, etc.)