A place where I can get free books has always seemed like a magical kingdom. I owe so much to the free public library system, and I don’t mean overdue fines. Wherever Jay and I travel, we try to find a library filled with good books and good people.Since we are going to spend most of this year in Sonoma County (California), my first order of business was to get a library card, join the Friends of the Library, and join a library book group. Near the end of 2009 the library announced they would be completely shut down the last two weeks of the year because of budget cuts. That event even included their online catalog. (That seemed very strange.) The only nice thing about it was, if you checked out books early, you got to keep them longer than normal.
When they re-opened in January, I told the librarian how much I missed the library and asked this question: What can the average person do to help keep the library open? I heard what I expected about property taxes, but then she told me about their best money makers. The first one is a “tip jar” on the counter where books are returned and checked out. Library patrons simply add spare change to the jar but she said many people have decided to contribute a certain amount for every book they check out. She said it really adds up for the local library.
The second big money maker is their used book sale shelves located in the front lobby. People contribute books for the sale and anyone can come by and purchase from the shelves. Hardback books are $2 and paperbacks are $1. She said they average about $400 a week from the sale. I was amazed as this is a small library in a small town.
I like this idea for several reasons. One is that it shows there is still a strong desire within the community to read and exchange books. The other reason I like it is that I can go home with some great books and say I had to buy them because it’s my duty to help the library. Ha! My husband didn’t buy that either but I thought it sounded good.
- Shanghai Girls
by Lisa See
- The Fulfillment
by LaVyrle Spencer
- Small Wonder: Essays
by Barbara Kingsolver
- Never Look Back
by Linda Lael Miller
- All the Queen’s Men
by Linda Howard
- Montana Women
by Toni Volk
- She Went All the Way
by Meg Cabot
Not a bad stack of books for $10, is it? Does anyone have a similar service at your local library? How do you like it?
My library system (where I used to work until the end of last year) does have a book sale area in each branch. Also, a used bookstore was opened in the last couple of years and the excess donations are sold there. Library systems all over are struggling with funds and I’m sorry that this library had to close for two weeks. However, that is a normally slow period for most libraries I think. Good for you for purchasing and, yes, you absolutely “had” to buy the books. What a good citizen!
Very cool! My local library has a secion for used books to buy, but the library I sometimes work at has only extra copoes of old library books (bestsellers they had to buy a lot of initially). I’ve never heard of a tip jar at the library! It’s an interesting idea.
I love the library. They just called me yesterday to let me know something I requested was is
I have not heard of the tip jar, but our library does hold book sales about every other month. There is a HUGE sale in June that is held at mall with thousands of books to choose from. I went for the first time last year and will never miss another one!
I never heard of a library with a tip jar, but it’s a great idea!
My library has been struggling recently as well. I really need to make a better effort myself to ensure that I help out my library as much as I can.
So glad to know that the books I buy at my library are really making a difference. I’ve seen the tip jar at my library too — I need to make an effort to contribute.
I think it was your duty to support the library like that! I can’t understand why Jay didn’t buy it. I can’t wait to see what you think of Small Wonders.
I’ve noticed where I am, that used books have gone up in price a bit. I don’t mind though when it goes towards the library anyway but the other day I bought 3 books and it totaled to $12 which seemed rather high for a library book sale.
Our branch does not have a tip jar that I’ve seen but they do have used books, movies and CD’s for sale. And they do their book sales 2x/year which rakes in some big bucks for them. Private donations are always an easy way – and tax deductible.
Here’s a site all about loving and supporting the library system:
http://www.geekthelibrary.org/
The library where I work serves a county of about 2500 people so we’re always looking for ways to enhance the budget. Book sales are always a hit – but a lot of work. Christmas 2008 we made a display of paper snowflakes with the name of an upcoming books by popular authors on each one. Patrons could purchase a snowflake for $20 and when that book came out a “Donated by” plate was placed in the front and they got first chance to read that book. We raised $900. Thanks for supporting local libraries in your travels!
You have a great stack of books for $10!! I love buying books from my library’s sales!! In fact, I spent $5 on a ton of paperback Christie books…I was very, very happy!!!! Enjoy your great finds!
Hi Margot — those are great ideas and I really want to forward this post to the tiny library we use at Fern Ridge (they do have the book sale, but not the tip jar). I feel the same way you do about libraries — have loved and used them since early childhood (and that’s a lot of years).
I’m catching up on my blog reading and hope to post again soon as “we” have the computer back up (we, as usual, would be spelled B-i-l-l). I’m glad I didn’t miss this post!
Also I was interested to read that you and Jay will be staying in Northern CA for a while. I had wondered if you were planning to travel more. It sounds like a great place to stay!
We have similar issues here in the UK, and have just won a campaign to keep our little local library open. The trouble with all these cheap book sales is that our living space is diminishing and the space our books take up is increasing. My husband is even worse than I am and our house is like a library itself!!
I love books. The question is – how do I store them??? I want to live in peace with our huge collection and can’t find what I am looking for..
you can always look for cheap books online, there are lots of websites that sell cheap books ”*