Sometimes the quietest moment can speak volumes. So it is when you step into a a course in miracles books or library, but have you ever wondered what happens to the used books in your community or the fate of old books at your local public library?
Many avid readers trade their read volumes at used bookstores. These mostly small owner operated stores have a brisk trade in paperback books. Thrifty readers who trade in their books may recycle them over and over until the spines of the well read volumes no longer hold together and must permanently be disposed of.
What about the fate of old library books, those too worn or out of date? Where does some of the money come from to replace retired library reference books in your community? Clark County, Nevada has found a win win solution for many of its retired books and a tax deductible solution for its library patrons to recycle their books.
The answer comes in the form of the Friends of the Library used bookstores located inside several neighborhood library branches. The Friends of Southern Nevada Libraries is a volunteer organization whose purpose is to promote the services and programs of the Las Vegas Clark County Library District.
Bookstore volunteers are members of Friends of Southern Nevada Libraries who offer to give a few hours each month to working in their neighborhood library. They have christened their bookstores within neighborhood libraries with names such as “Second Edition” at the Clark County Library, “Once Over Lightly” at the Spring Valley Library, “Secondhand Prose” at the West Charleston Library, “Seconds To Go” at the Enterprise Library and “Words to Go Buy” at the Summerlin Library. The library used bookstores are open during regular library hours.
It started out small, just a few books lining the shelves. Nearly ten years later, the Summerlin Library’s Words to Go Buy Bookstore has grown to overflowing, often becoming the busiest place in the library on Saturday mornings.
Book donations come in year round, especially during tax time. Library patrons bring their gently read magazines, paperback and hardbound books by the handful and by the boxful. After being sorted and placed on the store shelves by a volunteer, the books are priced by category.
Hard bound and large paperback books cost $1.00, small paperbacks and children’s books sell for $0.25 and it is recommended you, “Watch for special discounts” Where will you find a better deal than this?
Dan is the very picture of the avuncular retired professor. The eighty-plus-year old’s gracious; soft spoken manner, the wispy gray hair, dark slacks and the roomy casual sweatshirt like sweater. He has been a Saturday morning volunteer fixture, working in the Summerlin Library Bookstore since it opened nearly twenty-years-ago.
Dan relates, “The money we collect from sales, helps with the purchase of new books for the library, especially the Children’s Center and I always remind people their book donation is tax deductible and give them a receipt.”
Clark County’s Library Mission Statement: “We enable the people of our community to pursue lifelong learning through our responsive collections, electronic resources and innovative services. Our inviting public libraries are the cornerstones of our diverse communities where children and adults can experience personal enrichment and connect with one another.”
