Life of a Donated Book

I know. It’s not the kind of title that’s going to grab you. It’s not riveting, sexy, controversial or thought provoking. However, it may just make you realize how important your donation really is. Let me tell you how this story goes…
It’s spring cleaning, you’re moving, you’ve run out of room or you just graduated and over the years you have collected a lot of stuff. There’s some you keep, some you throw away, some you sell and then there’s that stuff you don’t know what to do with but you figure that somebody is going to want it. Now when it comes to books (you can also fill in here videos, tapes, magazines, toys, puzzles, CDs), chances are the local public library will be your location of choice. You think to yourself, what better place could use them? And you know something? You’re right!

So you gather your cardboard boxes/plastic crates/Publix bags filled with donations and drop them off at either Palm Harbor Library’s drive-up window or bring them to the front of the building. At this point some staff member will formally tell you that yes we do accept these types of donations providing they’re in reasonably good condition and it is understood the library will determine how best to use them. Alright now, what does that mean?

There are several ways your book can go. Here’s the super six list:

1) Add it to the Adult Collection
2) Add it to the Children’s Collection
3) Add it to the Teen Collection
4) Give it to the Friends of the Library to sell
5) Donate it in turn to another organization (more on this in just a bit)
6) Dump it. Why? Because…
     -the box was filled with critters
     -the box was wet (and so are the books)
     -the books are outdated (You really can’t use a medical book published in 1990. I know I wouldn’t!)

Obviously the first three options are what we look for. As our budget decreases, donations become more valuable. #4 is also very important because through your donations, we’re able to stock the library’s new Friends of the Library Book Store and through that little venture the library receives significant financial support. Case in point, it was the Friends who were able to contribute $100,000 to the library’s recent construction project. That’s a lot of donations! #5 is least know but as important to how else we use your donations. If we don’t add or sell your book, most likely one of the following organizations will be getting it:

-abuse shelter
-Alcohol Anonymous
-Bay Pines Veterans Hospital
-Coral Oaks Assisted Living Facility
-homeless shelter
-Head Start Program
-Hospice
-Mothers of Marines
-Mothers of Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan
-Pinellas County Adult Jail
-St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen
-UPARC

So as you can see, a lot goes on after you drop off your donation, get back in your car and head on home. As far as you may be concerned, that’s the end of it. For us, it’s just the beginning and for that, we thank you.

Maybe this wasn’t one of the best stories you ever heard, I’m sure you’ve known better but for me, it’s certainly one of my favorites. Thanks for listening. Thanks for donating.