[Sca-cooks] books (and libraries)

[Wanda Pease]

I have several books that I thought should be part of my library's
collection, but when I offered them I was turned down.  At first I was
irritated, but they explained that non-library bindings simply wouldn't hold
up to the abuse that many books are put to. I used to volunteer at a library
and after seeing the damage that the books receive when you put them in
those outside book dumps (they call them drops, but dumps is what they are)
I never can bring myself to use them any longer!  Even if you are careful
when you place them inside, someone else comes in with an armload and shoves
them in any which way.

Putting them on a sale table sounds good!

Wanda
>
> Our library doesn't throw them away, but does put them out on a
> perpetual sale table, selling them very cheap. I check it out every
> time I go. I also donate non-valuable books to them for just that
> purpose, as they can use every cent they bring in.
>
> They too, won't automatically shelve books that get donated. I've
> been told it's because of the cost of the paperwork, etc. But
> sometimes they want them. I've learned to contact the person in
> charge of buying new books for the library and offer them very
> specific titles I'm willing to part with. They've taken a handful and
> shelved them. After the library, I offer books of some intrinsic
> value (first editions, autographed books, etc.) to my email list
> members. I've passed on a number of books to what I assume are good
> homes that way, like early first edition Tanith Lee hardbacks to
> 'younger collectors' who never had the chance to buy them when they
> originally came out. I'm getting to the point where I need to reduce
> my library, not perpetually add to it (G).
>