Hi Victoria,
This is a great initiative, as there are so many new books -and older ones too- and the book reviews written in the last years as part of the diploma coursework constitute a valuable resource for all Birthlight members. There are two points here:
1. posting book reviews on the website: I would like to ask teachers if they are willing to have their book reviews posted on the website, and if so, whether with an acknowledgment of their authorship or anonymously. I hope that seeing reviews will not detract diploma candidates to carefully read books and review them.
2. those teachers who agree to have their book reviews posted in their name can then decide whether they wish to enter a loaning network. Some people do not like to lend their books. Some do, however, and this would be a great circulation of information and more than that, another way of creating community among teachers and trainees. There must be a form signed by borrowers about compensation for damage or loss of book so that the lenders would not lose out. In the years that I had a library at my teaching venue I have lost very few books, less than through casual borrowing by friends!
I think that Sally has a similar experience.
3. and an additional point. We all have busy lives and looking for a book, packing it and taking it to the post office can be an extra task. If you would like to coordinate a virtual Birthlight library from your home, go ahead. I am sure quite a few people would donate books or DVDs. I would be happy to contribute and also for you to list some of the books that I do not want to donate but would agree to loan to a trainee teacher for review. This means making a list, keeping it up to date and tracking the owners and the borrowers. If this is a Trust activity, it must be non-profit but there could be a small fee charged to cover your expenses, something like £1 per book.
Being a bookworm I like the idea a lot and thank you for your posting on behalf of all Birthlight members
Francoise