It’s a dilemma all collectors of books face at one time or another,” writes commenter RBSchultz. “When I last moved, I gave away to the local library my vast collection of World War II and Vietnam War books so that others might enjoy them. After I moved, I decided that my collection of photography books was too heavy and large in volume. These went to my local Friends of the San Francisco Library where the sale proceeds supported the library. My vast collection of polar and mountaineering books will ultimately go to auction.
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When Jacques Caillault complained that the local library had no interest in a personal library, commenter gareilly offered some helpful alternatives:
“I don’t suppose you would be willing to ship your books here, to The Friends of the Temple Public Library, in Temple Texas. When our world isn’t falling apart, we have two sales a year of donated books. The money funds a book mobile (we are saving to buy a second one), kid and adult programs in the library and special needs, such as installing a “Free Little Library” at a local elementary school. If you aren’t willing to reward us with your stash, search online for a library group closer to home. Talk to them, not the main librarian, who probably has more on their plate than we know. A volunteer group would have the members to sort your stash. Once, we got thousands of books from a chess master who passed on. That donation, properly marketed brought our group thousands of dollars, but I am sure the head librarian would have turned it down if she’d seen the specialty chess books in the collection. Our group had the resources and time to make sure those books found good homes.”
COMMENT
Libraries that accept donations and hold book sales perform an essential public service. People who like to read inevitably acquire too many books. The books have to go someplace.
With Friends of the Library providing volunteer help, book sales can help with funding. However, many librarians, overly focused on money, have failed to grasp the public service aspect of accepting book donations. The librarian prejudice against book sales is so strong that one such volunteer suggests avoiding the librarians all together.
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