by Ruby Bonham
What an astonishing thing a book is: it’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you are inside the mind of another person, maybe dead for hundreds of years. Across the millennia an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head – directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic. Carl Sagan
There is a movement afoot to get rid of all the books in the library that are over 3 years old. Books are timeless. They don’t get old. They may become tattered and then need to be pulled because they were well read and loved by many hands.
The library committee may mean well but they are not book lovers or librarians. Many read on their tablets or listen to audio books. Book lovers want to hold the book, turn the pages and live the story. When you find an author you like, you go back to the library to find and read their other books. Popular authors have been writing for 10, 20 or more years. Some have passed away but their books are still in demand.
Today the library shelves are half bare. Those missing books are not easily replaced. A library with books only three years old is not a library. A small group of people should not be able to decide for the whole park. It is our library- everyones. I’m sure I am not the only book lover who is distressed by this action. Our library is special to us and gives us the opportunity to read free instead of having to buy the books. I miss and mourn the books that have been discarded for all the wrong reasons. Please stop the madness.
Wow! So very well said!
Well said Ruby.
I agree. Books are timeless and should be discarded only when they begin to fall apart.
Ruby, I was not aware of the issue. I will discuss with the library volunteers and rectify the situation.
Some of the books are back but many are still missing and are not replaceable.
Well said, Ruby and I totally agree with your comments.
hey Suzi, do they still just take paperback books at te library? I have many hard cover books kept in our shed, some are political, some cook books. do u think the library would be interested in them? I can bring up a couple too see if u want them? email me or text me. Regi (Wilson’s mom 1) lot 173.
I’ll be taking my books somewhere else now.
When we visit TV my first thought is to visit the library. Reading an old book (new to me) is very enjoyable. I take a book and replace it with an old book of mine. The taking away of books, probable some famous titles is a poor act by the library committee. Quering the community first before acting should have been performed. Probable many people, including me, donated to the library. I hope the books that were stripped from their shelves return.
Ski & Sandy
#57
Well said, these books are important and loved by the people, and should be consulted by the people, when removing anything from timber valley
I’m a bibliophile and have really enjoyed the Timber Valley Library when I’m in the park. When I returned from Arizona last spring, I gave about 20 books to the library. What I noticed, is the shelving was getting stuffed! As much as we may want to hang on to every single book, there simply isn’t enough shelf space or room in the library for more shelving. There will be no simple solution if you want to keep every book until the cover falls off. If there’s a 3 (or 4) year rule, I’ll make certain any book I wish to give to the library isn’t outdated according to the rules and give those books to the St Vincent de Paul downtown. Others could do the same.
We apologize for the recent misunderstanding of our library committee guideline that resulted in the loss of so many books. Our existing guideline is that books will only be removed “as needed” to make room for new donations. We are clarifying this with our volunteers who help keep this valuable resource available for our members and visitors.