An easy, but slow, way to build a class sets of novels

 Here is part of my book shelf for class sets of my AP Lit class:

I have similar shelves for my non-AP classes too with class sets of Persepolis, Things Fall Apart, Night, 1984, No Fear Shakespeare Macbeth, and others.  I didn't pay for a single one of those books.  

The trick is quite simple.  I send out short emails to parents periodically and when I tell them of upcoming units, I put in a link to the book on Amazon if they would like to purchase the book for their child.  When the unit is over, I always ask the kids if they wish to donate their book to the class when finished.  I let them pick the value of the book (they ask for things like homework passes, team points for games that we play, etc.).  Each year my supplies grow and I don't pay a cent for them.

It's such a simple thing, yet one that has dramatically impacted what I can do.  The books are my personal books now and were I to change schools, I could take them with me.