My job as a TK-8th grade school librarian comes with an ever-growing stack of books. It’s my responsibility to know and read books for kids ages four to fourteen. That’s a lot of books (and a great job)! My favorites make it into the library. The rest I donate to homeroom teachers looking to build their classroom libraries, other schools in my diocese, and nonprofit organizations or thrift stores.
Many of the books are ones I buy. Others are donations from school families looking to declutter their own home libraries. I never feel guilty about buying or accepting a book marked for children. Nor do I feel guilty about the number of books cluttering my home or the number of books I donate yearly. I am happy to be the conduit that puts the right book in the right kid’s hands. I wish I read books faster (less closely) and did a better job reading new titles. There is always something to work on!
Here is this librarian’s ever-growing stack of books for 2023! I had fourteen bags of books remaining after a 4th-grade teacher from another school took two dozen bags for her classroom library. I hope her students like their new books, especially the personal favorites I couldn’t resist pushing.
Every other year I also do a huge weed of the library. I put out two long folding tables outside the library and stack them with books that aren’t circulating. The kids in summer school benefit from taking home books for the summer. There is no charge, of course. The books are free to whoever would like to take them home.
I had to make several trips to The Goodwill, but it was worth it. Doing this tiny William Morris Project installment not only cleared out my home and my library. It also allowed me to strike another item off the list that a few months ago felt impossible!
It’s great to feel better. Now I’m off to clean out my closet!
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