Discards
Where do books go to die? Is there a library cemetery? To a diehard lover of books this is a delicate subject. What it comes down to is that there's only just so much 'space in the inn'. What to dispose of? Where to dispose? Who makes the call? Is there criteria to follow? Recently at a local library, I picked up a couple of discards that I gave to my brother as 'booby' prize at Christmas. My grandmother would have laughed her head off. I wrapped him a couple of biographies that I found: Knute Rockne and Charles Darwin. This summer he took on a close to 800 page life story of the English naturalist, resigned it out of his town library about 5 times. He read it slowly and carefully. It was tough sledding at times, but he completed it. Another example of the 'plugger' mentality found in our family at times. Don't give up! Never give up! Finish the job. A couple of days after Christmas, his wife texted me a picture of him reading my 'gift'. Will he take on Knute's life? His favorite collegiate football team is Notre Dame. You tell me.
And by the way, I think he'll take good care of both of these books.
Me, unless the book is extra special, I'd rather turn it into something else.
ReplyDeleteIf you google Altered Books and then go to IMAGES you can see what multitudes of artists have done with old books.
Some find this blasphemous, but I find it wonderful.
"Weeding" books, as if they were dandelions! Love that plugger mentality, can you all lend me some? One of my favorite books for children that involves Darwin: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate.
ReplyDeleteI used to be a public school librarian. Weeding was what we called going through the shelves, finding books to discard. It always hurt like hell to get rid of them.
ReplyDeleteI've been taking mine overflow to a used book store. The problem is, I usually come home with just as many as I take.
ReplyDeleteAll very good questions, Birdman. There's an old bookstore here in Sarasota where many of the books you describe go to 'rest'...and waiting for someone like to find them for a booby prize.
ReplyDeleteDarwin was a VERY interesting man. I would love to read the "booby prize."
ReplyDeleteFunny. My brother has taken a huge interest in history all of a sudden (I've always loved it) and when he was given two biographies for Christmas- Lincoln and Washington- I was jealous.
ReplyDeleteToo many books? Loan them to friends. That guarantees you'll never see them again.
ReplyDeleteI have great difficulty purging books. I always think I may read it again or some such thing!
ReplyDeleteLots of good comments on what to do with old books you want to cast off. Liked altadenahiker's -- loan to a friend and you'll never see it again -- how true -- barbara
ReplyDeleteYour brother's initial reaction while starting this "new" book on Darwin (which, by the way, is a discard from a middle school library!)? "This is great - it really helps to fill in the missing pieces." Nice. As for Knute . . . he will read it. And you will receive a picture.
ReplyDeleteI suffer from separation anxiety when I have to clean off the bookshelves. But I am at the point that the shelves must be cleared because I don't have any more room.
ReplyDeleteI might slog through Darwin but I'd never have the patience or interest for Rockne. Don't like football, didn't go to Notre Dame. But I lake the photo a lot. You never see a shelf full of books from that side.
ReplyDeleteHey Memphis mojo....read "Darwin's A Sacred Cause"....
ReplyDeleteBuy a bigger house with more shelving?
ReplyDeleteGifting a book, even if it is a library "withdrawn" is a terrific present. Library book sales I suppose are one way to weed out books that are a bit tattered or no longer popular.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jack.
ReplyDelete"Where do go books to die".. Does a book ever die?It may disappear , get burned or destroyed , but still lives in people minds, those who spent time to read it.
ReplyDeleteMy house is full of books, I often save old ones that nobody wants anymore, I just love them, perfect or not. Yes, I couls be able to buy a greater house to keep my books!