I don't get it

We hear all the time how public libraries have no funding and thus can't buy any books. So recently I contacted the branch manager of the library closest to my house. I explained that I was a book reviewer and I have a large number of books that I'd like to donate.

These are good books: new, hardcover mysteries and thrillers, most of them unread, all of them published within the last 18 months or so. I said I'd like to make sure the books went to good use and could provide more in the future if it worked out well.

The librarian wrote back and said they'd be happy to take the books -- but only for the Friends of the Library sale. I could drop them off on a certain date and a certain time, but only 2 boxes worth.

What am I missing here? I can understand that a particular book might not be of any use to a library. But books in general aren't worth their time? New, recent hardcover mystery novels from major NY publishers, including award-winners, aren't the kind of thing that they'd like to have in their collection? For free?

I don't get it.

Comments

[Mary R]

Part of this is the cataloging. Books purchased as library editions usually come with all the neccessary cataloging materials, printed and electronic.

The cost to the library for hand-cataloging a donated book may be greater than the value of the book. The chance for error is also increased.

That said, your best chance is not to ask about donations (libraries get all sorts of garbage dumped on them), but ask who makes the acquisition decisions concerning mystery novels. This person would probably know the titles you are talking about and figure out if you can coordinate your pipelines of books.

-Not a librarian, but raised in librarian family.

[Rob]

Got me. Sounds a little bass ackwards to me, too.

[Bill Peschel]

I ran into this, but also the opposite reaction. The small system down in York County, S.C., was thrilled to get the books. The York city branch has one of the most comprehensive collection of mystery fiction of the 1990s.

Up here, in Hershey and Hummelstown, they were willing to accept them, but I didn't feel the love that I did down south. Come, go, drop off, whatever.

[Lana Lang]

I live in Las Vegas, and all of our libraries have little book stores within them that sell library discards and donated books.

I saw THE RUINS by Scott Smith (a current hardback) was selling for two dollars, and I bought four Grisham paperbacks for a buck.

I doubt these donations are making much money for the libraries.

[Jody]

I've struck this glitch too, after donating a copy of Barbara Neely's "Blanche on the Lam" a few years back. After all, it was a winner of both the Agatha AND the Anthony award, and one of the few books from the list that the local libraries didn't have. And if they're going to encourage patrons to read award winners, they might appreciate owning hard-to-get-in-this-country books, right?

Nope, WRONG. Librarian looked dismayed, and tried to discourage me from donating, and when I questioned why it wasn't such a good thing she muttered something about the high cost of putting donated books into the Library catalogue, and the administration fees that would accompany it.

Needless to say, it didn't end up in the Library collection, having likely been shunted off to the charity sale of ex-library and donated books also.

Odd!

[Jody]

Oh - and thank you Mary R, I failed to see your above post, but this has explained this anomaly a lot more clearly.

[David Montgomery]

If the library orders a book from the distributor, don't they still have to Brodart it, stamp it, sticker it (etc.) and then enter it into their computer system?

Mary's explanation makes sense, and I reckon she's hit the nail on the head, but it strikes me as a bureaucratic cop-out.

[Ken Van Durand]

Same thing here in Central Florida.
All books go on sale.
Maybe they are just too lazy to sort out the donated books.
No matter, it makes no sense.
Starbucks does book drives a couple of time a year...and somehow I feel better having them find a new home for the books.
KVD

[Captain]

The cataloging is the main issue. Also, you would be amazed at how much money some of those friends of the library book sales make. I know of one system that makes almost $75k in a year by selling old tattered books and donations. It's crazy and not too mention some systems have huge amounts of funding, it's just a mess often times when it comes to understanding it. My job involves working with libraries in every form and education. Hope it helps.

[spyscribbler]

I completely agree. It's sad, because I would donate my entire collection of books, if I knew that I could check them out at the library if I desperately missed them.

[Stephen D. Rogers]

They also need funding for things besides books. By selling donated books, they can buy bookshelves, bookmarks, etc. as well as pay part-timers.

[Elaine Flinn]

I was surprised too, David, to learn what happend to books I donated to the library. But then I figured if they were at least earning money for the system, it was okay with me. However, I split my book donations between the library and Meals On Wheels.

[Johnnie Frisbie]

I select fiction for a mid-size public library. While some of our donations go to the library book sale a fair number also make it onto our shelves. If the books you were donating were 18 months old what you must realize is that the library ordered enough of those books to meet patron demands. Usually, unless a book is The DaVinci Code by the time 18 months has passed the initial demand for the book has passed.
What happens at some of our branches is staff takes those pristine donations and checks their shelves to see if the copy they currently have needs to be replaced. Staff that takes the time to do this can make a significant contribution to keeping their collection looking good. It is not that libraries do not appreciate donations, we do, it is just that we cannot rely on them to meet out patron needs.

[Betsy Ritchie]

I am a high school librarian. Personally I would love to receive donations of new, good mystery fiction. Our school encourages students to self-select books; often the new ones have more appeal-and our budgets often do not stretch to cover such purchases. While there may be a few titles that may be deemed inappropriate by some school librarians, it would still be worth a check with your local high schools.