When we moved to NH, we were moving to a smaller house, and we decided to narrow down our book collection. It's hard to part with old friends like that, but we just weren't going to have the room for it. So every day for at least a week, I would stop by the police station in our town, and deposit another couple of boxes of books in the library dropbox outside the station. I think it was an Eagle Scout project, that dropbox. It was there to facilitate getting books to the library for the Friends Of The Library sale every 6 months. All I knew was that those books were going to be in good hands, because we knew the librarian and several of the trustees. And we knew that, when any of those books sold in the next book sale, the funds collected would go towards programs at the library. It made parting with all those books a lot easier.
And we still brought 16 book boxes with us to New Hampshire!
This was a wonderful reflection, Dan. Every book a reader, every reader a book. Books have a way of finding their natural homes. I’m working with a friend in Kenya to build a small library for her community and the surrounding villages. As someone who knows books, it’s fun to imagine books about the African Savana or counting simple objects, or about the constellations that will really bless some children who are thirsty for learning. There’s always New England Antiquarian Book Society as well. Those people have artifacts! We are part of a much bigger community of people all over the world who love and cherish their books. I plan on donating the books my children don’t want to disaster relief through ALA, many communities lose their collections due to flooding and hurricanes every year. ✌️
I was tearing up reading this, Dan. Books are SO personal. I have a “collection” of books too…some I have read, most I haven’t gotten to yet. I just envision my kids going through them one day and tossing them. ALTHOUGH…I do have some readers amongst the 7 so hopefully there will be something in there for them.
A few months ago we sold our home of 46 years in CT even though we have lived here for almost seven years (why we kept that house is another story). Even though there was so much to sort through, the books were the hardest. I took all (ok, most) of mine to a special collection area that our library in that town provided. It was really hard. I had to be ruthless. We just don't have enough room in our current house to have the floor to ceiling bookcases we had there. My husband refused to part with his, as many were also inherited from his parents. They are now in a storage unit that we keep organized and almost like an extra room.
I am trying SO HARD and very unsuccessfully now to keep my number of books down. But I do donate to Little Free Libraries and our local libraries.
When we moved to NH, we were moving to a smaller house, and we decided to narrow down our book collection. It's hard to part with old friends like that, but we just weren't going to have the room for it. So every day for at least a week, I would stop by the police station in our town, and deposit another couple of boxes of books in the library dropbox outside the station. I think it was an Eagle Scout project, that dropbox. It was there to facilitate getting books to the library for the Friends Of The Library sale every 6 months. All I knew was that those books were going to be in good hands, because we knew the librarian and several of the trustees. And we knew that, when any of those books sold in the next book sale, the funds collected would go towards programs at the library. It made parting with all those books a lot easier.
And we still brought 16 book boxes with us to New Hampshire!
You're doing important work, my friend.
I like the idea of a book drop box!
This was such a touching essay. I need to get rid of some books, but I just can't bring myself to part with them.
I understand!
This was a wonderful reflection, Dan. Every book a reader, every reader a book. Books have a way of finding their natural homes. I’m working with a friend in Kenya to build a small library for her community and the surrounding villages. As someone who knows books, it’s fun to imagine books about the African Savana or counting simple objects, or about the constellations that will really bless some children who are thirsty for learning. There’s always New England Antiquarian Book Society as well. Those people have artifacts! We are part of a much bigger community of people all over the world who love and cherish their books. I plan on donating the books my children don’t want to disaster relief through ALA, many communities lose their collections due to flooding and hurricanes every year. ✌️
I love the idea of every book has its home! Thanks for being here by the way!
Finally!! It took me long enough! Trying to stay off my phone and in my books! That idea came from my course in Foundations of Librarianship at USF. More about that here: https://www.librarianshipstudies.com/2017/09/five-laws-of-library-science.html?m=1
Great to be here! Thanks for your thoughtful writings!
I was tearing up reading this, Dan. Books are SO personal. I have a “collection” of books too…some I have read, most I haven’t gotten to yet. I just envision my kids going through them one day and tossing them. ALTHOUGH…I do have some readers amongst the 7 so hopefully there will be something in there for them.
Odds are they’ll treasure some of them!
Already have my son (of all things!) coveting my Ty Gagne books! ❤️
How sweet! This is wonderful!
Thank you!
This is my favorite essay of yours, EVER!
A few months ago we sold our home of 46 years in CT even though we have lived here for almost seven years (why we kept that house is another story). Even though there was so much to sort through, the books were the hardest. I took all (ok, most) of mine to a special collection area that our library in that town provided. It was really hard. I had to be ruthless. We just don't have enough room in our current house to have the floor to ceiling bookcases we had there. My husband refused to part with his, as many were also inherited from his parents. They are now in a storage unit that we keep organized and almost like an extra room.
I am trying SO HARD and very unsuccessfully now to keep my number of books down. But I do donate to Little Free Libraries and our local libraries.
Yes! I should have mentioned how important and wonderful little free libraries are becoming!
It was a relief to be able to bring hundreds of books to your library before our move last month, knowing they'd be in good hands. Thank you!
I'm so glad you did!
Ah, Dan,
I got rid of most of my books long ago. It feels like I'm missing a hand..
Jim
I understand!