Book Donations

Greetings!

Can you believe it is December already! I remember my grandparents and my parents talking about how quickly time passes, but it seemed to drag for me. Now I totally understand.

Very soon people will be cleaning and getting rid of things from their homes and sending them to thrift stores. When they come to books that they no longer need or want, they may think of you and bring them for you to use. Some of the books will be real treasures and you will be glad to have them, but some will be old, out of date, and not really useful for your library. So how should you handle this situation? You may have no problem with this, but I have had this happen so many times, that I have a standard speech I give. I am happy to share it with you.

“Thank you so much for the books. I will be happy to look through them and see which ones we need for the library. If I find that there are some that we don’t need, is it OK with you if I find another place for them, such as a classroom or would you rather have them back?”

At this point, the kind soul usually tells us to please keep them, they don’t want them. Now you are at liberty to do what you want with the books.

I look through the donations and see what we need in our library. I process for the library the books that we need. I may notice a book or two that I don’t need, but I know that a particular classroom studies that subject or I feel that it would be better used there than the library. Some duplicate copies are put in my “Sale” shelf or take to a used book store. I have credit at my local used book store and save up to get copies of books that I want or need. You also might sell your donations through an online source such as Amazon or Alibris. If you don’t want to bother with this, do not despair. You might have a parent or church member already doing this and can just add your books to their ‘store’ and sell them for you. Keep an eye out for old reading books as these can be valuable, particularly the Alice and Jerry series books.

I have a few of the old readers that I have processed for the library and encourage students to read. So consider that option, as well.
Good luck with your book donations.

Have a great week.

Audrey