To benefit libraries

This letter is for all Friends of the Library groups who support their library by having book sales. We recognize that having books to sell relies on donations from the community and our members. However, donations have gotten out of hand in the sense that we are receiving too many books that don’t deserve to be put in a sale. People, we are not your dumpster.

Think about what you are donating that you think is so valuable that we could make money on it at a book sale. Old is good, right? But old, smelly and moldy books are bad! Would you buy one at a book sale? Probably not; so don’t donate them.

Now, that algebra textbook you used in the ninth grade has to be worth something, right? No, it isn’t. While algebra formulas haven’t changed, access to them has. Computers, duh. So please, no more outdated textbooks.

Wait, those popular novels surely fit in the saleable category. Maybe, but some authors have been over-represented and are no longer saleable. We’ll give you a pass on this category and take your donations, recognizing that 80% won’t sell. But still, people, we are not your dumpster.

Okay then, what would be our guidelines on books to donate? First: contemporary fiction by popular authors. These should be current publications, not more than a year or two old. Second: nonfiction books covering biographies and historical, world-changing events. Third: any book you recently bought that you think would be a nice gift to someone.

If you have read this far, you have an interest and a desire to assist in promoting the resale of literary properties for the benefit of libraries. Thank you.

NEALUS WHEELER Mountain Home