Monday, January 11, 2010

The 11th Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Throw Books Away!





Seriously – these books, tied in their cute pink ribbon, were in the TOSS pile at the library. Our branch is a collection spot for used books that patrons no longer want. We sell the “gently used” books at our quarterly book sales and use the funds for many of our library programs.

Louisa May Alcott’s treasures were deemed “unsellable” because of their age and were destined for the recycle bin. Oh no!! I LOVE old books – especially the ones with pages falling out and bindings in shreds. I have quite a collection of vintage books – including my grandmother’s 1st edition The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. I could not let these eight gems go. I checked the inside pages and most of them are from 1936-39 and they belonged to Anne Elizabeth Findley. Thank you Miss Findley!

My new possessions include: Eight Cousins, An Old Fashioned Girl, Rose in Bloom, Little Women, Little Men, Aunt Jo’s Scrap Bag, Under the Lilacs and Lulu’s Library.

I’m afraid if I remove the pink ribbon – they may all fall apart!

On a personal note, I hope you will be patient with my blog and upcoming book reviews. Since the beginning of the year, my responsibility as chairman of my children’s elementary school PTA fundraiser has taken over my life. I’m trying to obtain silent auction items, write fundraising letters, sell tickets – you name it – and doing it in a very recessed economy where no one wants to donate anything to a non-profit. Because of that, my book reading has taken 2nd, even 3rd place on my priority list. I will be posting book reviews as much as my time allows. But I’ve realized more than once in recent weeks, I can’t do it all. So, for now, I will be wearing my fundraising hat, and hopefully book reviewer hat when this event is over in March.

At least I had my book rescuer hat on today!

8 comments:

Nicole Marsh said...

What a treasure to find those books before they were tossed!! I love Little Women but have never read the other books, Maybe I will have to check them out now. Good Luck with the fundraiser.

Laura H said...

What a great find. We were just discussing at our book club meeting that Alcott books are some of the few books that all of us had re-read in the past.

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

Ugh, it makes me cringe to think about the fact that books are thrown away at all, much less excellent books such as the ones you saved! Good luck keeping sane this semester :)

Amused said...

Good save! I hope when you peel that ribbon away they remain in tact as those are delightful books!

yourpersonallibrarian said...

Working at a public library has its benefits. Whoever "gifted" those books can rest assured that they are well appreciated and cared for. Thanks Daisy Mom!

Jeanette said...

What a find for you! I am reading the new bio of Louisa May Alcott and it is making me want to read or re-read many of her books.

Lucy said...

How quaint. They look lovely.

Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooks said...

Beautiful find! I had OLD Nancy Drew and Tracy Belden books that my grandparents picked up at a tag sale when I was a kid ... I wish I still had them on my bookcase now.

(Did you remove the ribbon?)