By Janet MacKenzie
Is it possible that donors of books can’t read? Despite having multiple signs posted at the Book Swap, especially on the milk crates which sit atop the table, saying: “Please do not leave books on the table”, someone left at least twelve boxes of books on the exactly there.
The Book Swap, located at the Recycling Center, is staffed entirely by volunteers. Open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays from 8-12, it is managed by the talented Lori Stapleton, who refreshes the inventory every few months. The books donated are organized and sorted into categories of fiction and non-fiction, travel, history, children’s literature, etc. Some are stored in the shed and others are displayed on the bookshelves for the public to choose. There are also cookbooks and coffee table books, cd’s, old LP’s and puzzles.
Patrons may take books without having to donate books. There is no charge.
Signs, prominently displayed, urge donors not to leave books on the table. During the week some volunteers come to the Book Swap to sort deliveries of books which came in too late to be sorted properly. They also deliver books to book deserts in other towns.
Sadly, two Saturdays ago, someone dropped at least a dozen boxes of books on the table and that afternoon we had torrential rains.
The books were sodden, ruined and had to be tossed out with the trash. What a shame it was to dump so many potential sources of pleasure to so many people, because the books were beyond saving.
Perhaps the donor of those books, who cared enough to deliver them to the Book Swap, will read this and care enough about the books to keep them for an extra few days instead of leaving them open to the elements.