|
|
Post by Neil on Sept 11, 2017 21:29:31 GMT
Hi all As some of you have probably, the site has been creaking very badly over the last few months. It will need quite a lot of time and money to make it usable again, and unfortunately neither Andy nor I have the resources to make this happen. Therefore, after 12 years, it's with great sadness that I have to announce that the ReadItSwapIt site will be closing at the end of October. UPDATE: Due to technical problems the site is now closed as of 26th September 2017. Please see the later posts in this threads for more details. Thanks so much to all of our members, and particularly the forum moderators, who have made the site such a success. We won't need to close the forums though, so please bookmark this address ( readitswapit.freeforums.net/) as the forums will no longer be accessible through forums.readitswapit.co.uk, if that's where you normally access them from. For those of you looking for other swapping websites, I think that BookMooch ( bookmooch.co.uk/) is still operational. Please use this thread to give the site a fond farewell, and to post your favourite memories of using RISI through the years. I personally have some really happy memories of staying up late at night adding new features to the site, and I'm glad that so many people have found it useful. Farewell, and happy reading! Neil |
|
|
|
Post by pennylane on Sept 11, 2017 21:59:23 GMT
Oh that is a shame, I think I joined after the peak for swapping on the main site what with increased postage cots putting some off, but have had quite a few swaps anyway. I will miss being able to swap books but at least we'll still have the forums to chat and keep in touch.
Thank you both for keeping it going for so long
|
|
|
|
Post by janetandjohn on Sept 11, 2017 22:13:43 GMT
I joined almost 10 years ago, and have swapped around 550 books. Loved all of it. In the early days when social media was quite new, there was heavy forum traffic. Babies were born, people got married, people died; and so much of it was recorded on those old forums. Over 40 pages of book reviews (lost now of course). There were several "big" meets - 2 in Belfast, 1 in Birmingham, and loads more smaller ones, which continue to this day, either noted on these forums or arranged via facebook.
For me, it's always been fun, and I have read books I would never have come across. Some I loved, some were not so good, but when a book drops through the letterbox it is always fun to unpack and see if it really is what you wanted!
And do you know between a few of us we wrote a "best seller"! It went on for months, each member only allowed to add five lines at a time. It had thrills, spills, sex, robbery, spies, car chases - you name it we had it! When we finally came close to the end, we closed the thread and edited it down so that it was in a bookish format. I still have it on a memory stick somewhere! Do'you think Hollywood would like it?!
It's been a nice place to be mostly. The occasional on line "spat" threatened the enjoyment sometimes, but somehow one Mod or another got us through. I've made some great friends here and am glad we have these new forums to be booky on. And of course to chat and arrange meets, swap ideas, and general be the lovely book people we all are.
Here's to more years on here!!
|
|
|
|
Post by kathers on Sept 12, 2017 6:08:48 GMT
Is this going to be announced on the main site? A lot of members don't come on here and I wouldn't want anyone to be midswap and have the site shut down without any warning.
|
|
|
|
Post by natsplatt on Sept 12, 2017 6:42:51 GMT
Oh that's such a shame, I've been a member for almost 10 years, almost 200 swaps in that time, and many more books added to my shelves besides too! As an unemployed single mum back then, I'm pretty sure the forums saved my sanity too, I've made the most amazing friends, and been to so many meets, it's been a blast!
I shall miss the main site, but at least we will still keep chatting here!
Nat
|
|
peppercricket
Book Assistant
Batley Townswoman's Guild presents the Battle of Pearl Harbour
Posts: 7,073 
|
Post by peppercricket on Sept 12, 2017 7:15:17 GMT
Thanks for a wonderful concept, Neil & Andrew. It's such a shame the time has come to close the site. I've made some terrific friends via RISI and swapped some brilliant books. I'm glad we'll still be able to chat.
|
|
|
|
Post by windysisters on Sept 12, 2017 7:31:56 GMT
Thank you Neil and Andy for having the wonderful idea in the first place and all the hard work you have done over the years, especially seeing to the long "shopping lists" of forum tweaks we kept giving to you.
My sister and I joined fairly early on as a joint venture (hence my user name) and while my sister was content with swapping only, I quickly got chatting on the forum and after a few years became a Moderator.
My fondest memories are of the forum members - those who have stuck with us moving from independent platform, to being bolted onto Risi, and back again to a separate platform - and also those who were big characters in their time but have moved on to other things. I'd also like to mention two members who have sadly passed on. Elaine (Dingsy), who was an inspiration to everyone in her constant fight against pain and illness. Penny from Skye (tolly18) who was the first RiSi member to reach 1,000 swaps, gaining her a "Special Swapper" badge and also a forum-member-funded award (crowd funding in action!), as well as later becoming a Moderator and a much loved forum member with a true love of books and reading.
As Neil has said - this forum will go on. We probably won't get many new members but we'll be here until the last person leaves!
|
|
|
|
Post by geminii on Sept 12, 2017 7:38:55 GMT
I checked my profile recently and was surprised that my 1st year of being a part of RISI would soon be up .. doesn't time fly when you're having fun !!
Although I haven't been very active in the Swap arena lately, I have kept my Book List up to date, just in case. I am sorry that the decision has been made to shut down the site, and that a lot of you will mourn its loss .. I too am happy that the Forums will continue and that I will still get the opportunity to meet some of you soon ..
|
|
|
|
Post by bookmadkirstie on Sept 12, 2017 7:58:34 GMT
Oh that is a sad shame, but understandable. It is a wonderful concept that you came up with and I did have a bit of joy receiving a swap.
I only joined about a year ago now,but I've come across so many books I would never have picked up if it was not for this site, love it so much. I'm glad the forum side is staying as I am a bit of an addict at looking on here daily.
|
|
|
|
Post by celia48 on Sept 12, 2017 9:38:34 GMT
The end of an era  . I joined around 10 years ago and have swapped 296 books. I have really enjoyed that side of RiSi and was so thrilled to become a Super Dooper Swapper. However, the forums are great and, of course, we can still swap books at the meetups. Thank you Neil for setting it up in the first place and keeping us going for so long. |
|
anzee
Agatha Christie Whodunnit
Posts: 284
|
Post by anzee on Sept 12, 2017 10:09:01 GMT
I'm very upset about this news. It has quite ruined my day. I only joined after Green Metropolis bit the dust, but soon got used to regularly browsing new book additions. Even though the closure was inevitable, I hoped the site might keep going a while longer. I'll really miss it.
|
|
|
|
Post by polish6 on Sept 12, 2017 10:20:23 GMT
Dear All,
What a terrible shame! I thought the site was in trouble, and was preparing to leave in November, but this makes it all official. The idea for the site was a superb one. I would like to thank the creators of the site, the writers of the website, and every other member of RISI, who has made the experience of book-swapping so satisfying. (Not forgetting the moderators of this site). I have swapped some very good books indeed - The Crossing, by Cormac MacCarthy, The Memory-Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards, and many, many other fine tomes. I joined in 2010, when the website was going as well as it ever has. Final goodbye then, what a shame,
Yours
polish6, Marek
|
|
|
|
Post by belletinker on Sept 12, 2017 10:28:41 GMT
What a shame.To be honest though we did wonder how long it would last during the past few creaking weeks.
I have loved being part of the swapping side my first swap being in May 2006 (in fact I never did receive the other book) and I've done 449 swaps in that time. I've made some great friends online through the forums and have met a few at meets. Long may the meets continue in the future.
I will continue to join in on the forums and I'm thrilled that they will continue.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cormac on Sept 12, 2017 11:21:10 GMT
Thanks very, very much for all the work you've done - I've read loads of books, and I hope send loads to good homes! Very sorry to see it go.
|
|
|
|
Post by eightlegs on Sept 12, 2017 11:24:03 GMT
Hi, as others have said it is a shame but I totally understand that things cannot go on as they are. I am also a long term member, 2006 I believe, and have had much pleasure from both swapping and chatting and I've made many friends.
I'd just like to say a big thank you to Neil and Andrew for all their work on our behalf and to all the moderators both previous and current. I'm very glad the forums will be continuing as that is the part of the site I use most these days, so thanks also for setting that up so that we can continue.
Off to sort my wishlist now!
|
|
.
