[LM_NET] Donating discarded books request from original poster

["Elizabeth P. Dumas" <dumas@OPSB.NET>]

I just love the way a single post on lm_net can sometimes spark such animated 
conversations and even debates.  I wrote the original post asking for information 
about organizations that accept discarded library books to send to other 
countries.  What I did not mention in the post was that I am helping a colleague 
prepare for a presentation about Weeding and Collection Development and have been 
looking for creative ways to recycle/reuse old books to include in the 
presentation.  I have found lots of really neat art ideas from people online and 
have come to the conclusion that  weeding your book collection can provide a great 
opportunity to partner with the school?s art department to create some fantastic 
art projects with the books.  
 
Our emphasis has been to keep books out of the landfills and find eco-friendly 
solutions using them.  A science teacher has even suggested that they could 
possibly be used for insulation in houses and to consider consulting a contractor. 
Lots and lots of interesting ideas!  SO. . . .I want to put everyone?s mind to rest 
that we are NOT trying to unload a pile of outdated books on some poor school 
library here or abroad.  In fact, I also need to tell everyone that we do not even 
have any books to discard at this time ? lots of people are asking me to ship the 
books to THEM!!  My colleague was simply trying to find out about organizations 
that accept book donations for other libraries to just be prepared in case someone 
in the audience mentioned this idea.  Our opinions are the very same as many of you 
? that developing countries DON?T need 20 year old books on how to ski, etc., etc.
 
I have enjoyed reading the responses and discussion here on lm_net  while realizing 
that I did not fully explain the reason for my request.  I have been rather taken 
back by the tone of many of the personal emails sent to me telling me what an awful 
person - personally and professionally ? I am to want to send my old books off to 
another country.  The ones of you who have written these emails are the 
unprofessional ones in my opinion.  So. . .please reconsider if you are planning to 
email me to berate me for even thinking of such a thing since this is not the 
situation at all.   And to everyone else, thank you for your thoughtful and 
PROFESSIONAL responses ? I do hope this post makes clear my original intent.

Elizabeth P. Dumas
 

Elizabeth P. Dumas
Library Media Specialist
Good Hope Middle School
400 Good Hope Road
West Monroe, LA 71291
Phone: 318 396-9693
FAX: 318 397-5110
WiKi for the Louisiana Association of School Librarians
http://lasl2.wikispaces.com/
Get Johnny Reading Blog
http://getjohnnyreading.blogspot.com/

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