Libraries get big gifts of mostly useless books

摘要

The Maricopa County (Ariz.) Southeast Regional Library in Gilbert received 15,000 nearly useless books in late April from the Lebanon, Tennessee-based Cracker Barrel chain of restaurants. The gift was the result of Cracker Barrel's Neighborhood Book Drive, in which winners received a trip to the Country Music Association awards plus a donation in their names of at least 10,000 books to a library of their choice. The company sent similar gifts to public libraries in Columbus, Indiana, and Gadsden, Alabama, as well as several other libraries around the country, according to the May 3 Phoenix Arizona Republic. Maricopa resident Lillie Holmes won the contest and chose the Southeast Regional Library as the recipient of the gift. Soon after the gift was announced, however, library officials expressed skepticism about its usefulness and the potential cost of cataloging and housing such a large addition to the collection. Maricopa County Library Director Harry Courtright told American Libraries, "Any librarian who's been in this business awhile knows that in the case of big free gifts like this, you often end up with a bunch of books you can't necessarily use." When the library was criticized as ungrateful by Holmes and the local press, it decided to accept the books after all. Near the end of April, the books were delivered to the Maricopa library. The 15,000 books comprised only 10 titles and included 11,496 copies of the 1960s-vintage children's book What Would Happen If.... Librarians quickly realized the problem with the gift, noting that the books were in their original boxes and had been shipped directly from the publishers. Courtright said that the library would in fact be keeping the thousands of copies of What Would Happen If..., characterizing it as "a perfectly good little book." The books will be donated through local children's organizations to kids in Head Start programs, day-care centers, and preschools.