[Libs-Or] Fake blue "books for charity" bins

[Penny Hummel]

Thank you to everyone who has shared information about the impact of the fake blue donation boxes. At a discussion last night at Clackamas County's library district advisory group, George Hoyt  shared the excellent idea of approaching local Chambers of Commerce on this issue.  I took this ball and ran with it, and wrote the article below for their newsletter.  I share it in case it is useful to anyone else-feel free to adapt!

Donating books?  Forget about the blue boxes-give them to your library!

Recent newspaper articles have highlighted something that is having a devastating effect on public libraries:  a for-profit company that's placing blue "Books for Charity" donation bins across the country.  Although the information on the boxes implies that the donated books go to help people, most are sold for profit or recycled.  Most importantly, these donation bins are siphoning off book donations from public libraries and Friends of the Library groups.

When you donate books to your Canby library, your gift goes to work right here in Canby.  Some donations are added directly to the library's collection, others are sold in the Friends' Book Store to raise money to buy new materials or to support library programs like Summer Reading and Music in the Stacks.  Two of the "fake charity" blue boxes have been spotted already in Canby but we are hoping not to experience the stark drop in library donations that other libraries have seen after their arrival, as this hurts both the library and our Friends.

So, what can you do to help?


*         If you have gently used books to donate, forget about the blue boxes-instead, bring them to your Canby Public Library!  Smaller amounts can be put directly in our book drop in the alley beside the library (292 N. Holly Street), or you can ring the bell by the book drop during the library's open hours and we'll help you unload them.

*         If you're approached by the company that manages these blue boxes (Thrift Recycling Management) with a request to host one on your property and would like more information, contact library director Penny Hummel (503.266.4021 or hummelp at ci.canby.or.us<mailto:hummelp at ci.canby.or.us>)

As fellow Chamber members, the Canby Public Library and the Friends of the Canby Public Library thank you for your support!






Penny Hummel
Director
Canby Public Library
292 N. Holly Street
P.O. Box 930
Canby OR  97013
503.266.4021 X 230 (phone)
503.266.1709 (fax)
hummelp at ci.canby.or.us<mailto:hummelp at ci.canby.or.us>

Visit us online at www.lincc.org<http://www.lincc.org>



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