Do you have any books you'd like to donate to New Orleans?

[babylonsister]

> The New Orleans Public Library is asking for any and
all hardcover and
> paperback books for people of all ages in an effort to
restock the
> shelves
> after Katrina. The staff will assess which titles will be
designated
> for its collections and the rest will be distributed to
destitute
> families or sold for library fundraising.
>
> Please send your books to:
>
> RICA A. TRIGS, PUBLIC RELATIONS
> NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY
> 210 LOYOLA AVENUE
> NEW ORLEANS, LA 70112
>
> If you tell the post office that the books are for the
library in New
> Orleans, they will give you the library rate which is
slightly less than
> the book rate.
>

[texpatriot2004]

1. Thanks for this info re: the NO library nm

[blogslut]

2. What a great idea!

I shall scour through my personal library and see what I can donate. Thanks for this post :)

[vademocrat]

3. I will find books to send -

I always have some that can be "culled" & I've been wondering if I need to get more bookshelves before unpacking the rest of my books. I usually donate excess books to my library anyway.

Thanks for posting this!

[uppityperson]

4. Snopes (urban legends) says this...

http://www.snopes.com/katrina/charity/library.asp

Which brings us to this March 2006 appeal for used books with which to restock the New Orleans Public Library system. While the NOPL will accept donated books, potential contributors should take into account the enormous staffing problem the NOPL is attempting to cope with. While on the surface it might seem a brilliant plan to ship off all one's unwanted volumes to answer the need for books to replace those lost or hopelessly damaged by the flooding, the public libraries in that beleaguered city haven't the staff to adequately receive, sort through, catalogue, and place on the shelves all of the public's kindhearted offerings. With so many of that area's libraries still physically unfit to be opened to the public, it's fair to say they currently lack even the shelves to put the books on.

In response to this widely e-mailed appeal, the New Orleans Public Library has created a FAQ to aid those persons desirous of lending a helping hand to that institution. In a nutshell, they ask the public to donate money over books:
Does the library accept book donations?

Yes. However, due to storage and staff limitations, we ask that donors consider a few suggestions: If you are a publisher, please contact us in advance at [e-mail] before shipping large quantities of books. If you are an individual sending your own used books, please consider making a cash donation instead.

As the NOPL states:
What is the best way to help New Orleans Public Library?

Monetary donations are the best way to help the library rebuild (link here to donate online). If you would rather mail your donation, please make your check payable to NOPL Foundation and send it to New Orleans Public Library Foundation, 219 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112.
While packaging up your old books and mailing them off might seem the perfect solution to the NOPL's problems, do trust that the library better knows its own needs. Keep in mind that a great many books donated to libraries everywhere prove to be non-useful to those institutions; so, if you are moved to help, send money instead. If you want to support the New Orleans libraries with your old books, you can best do so by selling them yourself and giving the proceeds to the NOPL.

[EFerrari]

7. This is a good idea. It's hard to know what they could really use

so sending cash, while not as satisfying for us, might be a better solution.

I loved the auction DU had. Hint. Brooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaad hint.

:)

[uppityperson]

8. which auction? Mardi gras masks?

[EFerrari]

13. Yes! And I got a beautiful doll out of it. That was fun!

:)

[redwitch]

10. me too!

I especially love my lady madonna voodoo doll that I won in the drawing. :loveya: She is beautiful!

We have so little money after paying my son's tuition. He borrowed $8000 from SallieMae- interest rate of 9.5%. This is only his first year. We are coming up with the rest as best we can but he'll have to borrow every year. We have to find a better loan rate. I hate not having cash to donate to worthy causes. Last year there were so many, I guess there are always so many ways for the money to go, but now we are beyond tight. I am trying to volunteer time and talent instead of treasure.

[EFerrari]

14. I hear you! This last year has been the first of many

that cash was even an option for us, even as little as we can swing.

Time and talent can't really be bought, remember that. :)

[MountainLaurel]

11. Thank you for posting this

NOPL has had to lay off about 90 percent of its staff, if I remember correctly. So, no techs to process the incoming books, no catalogers to ensure they're in the system correctly, no IT people to fix the software glitches, no librarians to check the books out.

[uppityperson]

12. no bookshelves. What a pain.

[Kurovski]

19. Here is a link to things you can do to help the book situation,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x646394

[Lone_Star_Dem]

5. I sure do

Thanks for info on the opportunity to help.

[LisaLynne]

6. My university is having a big book drive for this!

I just saw the poster and tonight I will start gathering the books

[redwitch]

9. yes we do.

And will be very pleased to send them New Orleans way. Great idea and thanks for posting this!

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. We already sent ours to a school in MS

[theHandpuppet]

16. Thanks for posting this!

I'm giving this a good kick! :D

[central scrutinizer]

17. here's another resource

The Laura Bush Foundation has announced grants for hurricane damaged school libraries. At this point, there is approximately $400,000 that she would like to disburse in the next few months to buy book collections for eligible schools.

The Foundation will provide grants in the $50,000-$100,000 range depending on the level and size of the school, in order to provide a complete, basic collection for a school. Initially the Foundation will only be able to help a few schools, but more money may become available, so there would be more applications and grants as schools begin to rebuild and come "online."

For more information and a brief online application go to:
http://www.laurabushfoundation.org/


I assume they have many copies of "My Pet Goat"

[Solly Mack]

18. Thanks for the info!

will send some books

[salin]

20. I have several bags of fiction books

that I have been holding onto to give to a library fundraising effort. Looks like the books are about to find new homes.

[pitohui]

22. repeat -- sell the books and send the money

orleans parish is broke and most library staff laid off last i heard, no one necessarily around to accept and sort the books

try amazon.com or even craig's list if you have a big bag and just want them to all go to one person who'll give you some cash and pick 'em all up

my suggestion anyway, it would save them a little effort on the new orleans end and it would save you package, postage, and standing at the post office since you can't drop packages weighing more than 16 ounces in the ol mailbox

[babsbunny]

21. Boy! Do I have Books!

Thanks!