Lynda

Well, I've been to the library used book sale again, poor farm here I come.
I got a real find this time (I paid fifty cents and it is selling on the net
for $40 to $65) and a real must read, IMHO, for anyone interested in U.S.
history NOT written with an agenda.

The book is "The Truth About Geronimo." This book was written by a 7th
Calvary officer who was there and part of the Geronimo campaign of 1885/86.
He pulls no punches and tells it like it was without trying to gloss over
anything, pro or con from either side! It was most refreshing to read
something written by a whiteman that was factual and unbiased.

There are also some great pictures. Only the paperback is now in print, so
I don't know if it contains the pictures. If it doesn't and anyone who buys
the book wants to see the pictures, I will scan them and send them.

Lynda
If Ignorance Is Bliss Why Aren't More People Happy?

[email protected]

In a message dated 00-12-03 13:59:27 EST, you write:

<< I got a real find this time (I paid fifty cents >>

Doesn't it make you wonder, when you buy a really good, really exciting book
why the library didn't just put it on the shelf for people to check out?
Hmmmm....

Cool that you found that though!!

Sandra

Lynda

These sales are actually put on by the local volunteers who do fundraising
to buy new books and to keep the library open an extra day. The books are
donated and aren't usually old library books. Although I have noticed that
most libraries have a nasty inclination to only want "new" books, be that
actually new or new looking.

They also have silent auctions and have some really beautiful old out of
print books then. We've gotten some really great old books then. Our 12 yo
is going to be a lawyer and is a Lincoln buff and he got a book of Lincoln's
speeches published in about 1905 for $12. I'm just glad they didn't really
look at this one as it is selling on the net for $40 to $65!

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: <SandraDodd@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2000 11:19 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Book Review


> In a message dated 00-12-03 13:59:27 EST, you write:
>
> << I got a real find this time (I paid fifty cents >>
>
> Doesn't it make you wonder, when you buy a really good, really exciting
book
> why the library didn't just put it on the shelf for people to check out?
> Hmmmm....
>
> Cool that you found that though!!
>
> Sandra
>
>
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>

Laura Simeon

Sandra wrote:
> Doesn't it make you wonder, when you buy a really good, really
> exciting book
> why the library didn't just put it on the shelf for people to
> check out?
> Hmmmm....

Many public libraries are short of staff, funding and space. To process a
book so that it is out on the shelf and circulating costs money (I've heard
quotes of $40-50 per item, but this will vary). Before you'd get to this
point, you'd have to get someone to sift through and evaluate the donated
books in the first place. Some really cool books just don't fit in that well
with the existing collection (circulation stats, the acquisitions
librarian's criteria, etc.), so it makes more sense to sell them at a
library fundraiser - even if it's just for 50 cents.

Public libraries have a different mission than academic, corporate or other
libraries. No matter how fascinating a book may be to some people, it may
not be much in demand by the local taxpaying public which the library
serves, and so it's better to make room for something that really will be
used. E.g. public libraries will generally remove from their collections
books containing outdated medical information. Academic libraries, on the
other hand, keep them because they are of historical interest to
researchers. It's not a statement of how intrisincally valuable a book may
be, just a matter of context.

Laura
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Laura Simeon
mailto:thisbe@...
http://www.kjsl.com/~thisbe/

Peggy

And my library did have that book so I requested it. ;)

Peggy

Laura Simeon wrote:
>
> Sandra wrote:
> > Doesn't it make you wonder, when you buy a really good, really
> > exciting book
> > why the library didn't just put it on the shelf for people to
> > check out?
> > Hmmmm....
>
> Many public libraries are short of staff, funding and space. To process a
> book so that it is out on the shelf and circulating costs money (I've heard
> quotes of $40-50 per item, but this will vary). Before you'd get to this
> point, you'd have to get someone to sift through and evaluate the donated
> books in the first place. Some really cool books just don't fit in that well
> with the existing collection (circulation stats, the acquisitions
> librarian's criteria, etc.), so it makes more sense to sell them at a
> library fundraiser - even if it's just for 50 cents.
>
> Public libraries have a different mission than academic, corporate or other
> libraries. No matter how fascinating a book may be to some people, it may
> not be much in demand by the local taxpaying public which the library
> serves, and so it's better to make room for something that really will be
> used. E.g. public libraries will generally remove from their collections
> books containing outdated medical information. Academic libraries, on the
> other hand, keep them because they are of historical interest to
> researchers. It's not a statement of how intrisincally valuable a book may
> be, just a matter of context.
>
> Laura
> *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
> Laura Simeon
> mailto:thisbe@...
> http://www.kjsl.com/~thisbe/
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> Addresses:
> Post message: [email protected]
> Unsubscribe: [email protected]
> List owner: [email protected]
> List settings page: http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom