People of the Book

We Jews are "the People of the Book" both literally and figuratively. But in our home this designation takes on an additional meaning. We are book owners. There is no room, not one, in our house that does not have book shelves in it. A few years ago we ran into a problem that was unthinkable to us: we had run out of space to put book shelving, more books were always arriving to live with us, and some old guests were going to have to go. My husband had an ingenious solution: he built doubled up bookcases where the front case is hinged and swings out to reveal another case behind it. Yes, it was ingenious, but nature, abhoring a vacuum, has filled those bookcases as well. So yes, as much as it pains us, some books finally have to leave home.

Because I care that my books go to "good homes," I've found places to give the books to that help to lessen the "pain" of parting. For those who may find themselves in similar circumstances, the following is a list of places that might very well accept your book donations with pleasure.

1) Your local public library. It not only uses the books to put into circulation, but sometimes the library has book sales of material they can't find room for any longer and these books can be a real bargain; our branch charges 25 cents per book on its sale cart. That cart has been a real treasure trove for us. And yes, such a donation can be tax deductible. The library has donation cards already made up for those who bring in books.

2) Check with your local public/private schools. Many have libraries and will welcome book donations, even if not all types of books.

3) Local nursing homes and rehabilitation centers welcome book donations.

4) Hospitals provide book carts for their patients. Call the volunteer coordinator at your local hospital and ask what kinds of books they might be looking for.

5) Senior citizen programs of all kinds will take book donations.



6) Literacy programs are looking for reading material.

7) If you find you have reference books to give away, again, check with local schools and colleges.

8) Many local community centers have libraries and would welcome your donations.

9) Many thrift shops run by non-profit organizations also sell books at steep discount to those who shop there. They are also looking for donations.

10) Ask your friends. Your discards may be their found treasures.

11) For textbooks that you have been hanging on to for a while and which may not be used any longer by local schools, there are a number of organizations that collect these educational materials and send them out globally to places where any text would be highly welcomed. Let your fingers do the walking on the Internet.

Now is a good time to look at any book overflow, since people are doing or may be thinking of doing their whatever-you-want-to-call-it cleaning.