Five Things to Do with Weeded and Donated Materials

Every library has them--weeded and donated materials that sit in a storage closet, waiting for their next glimpse of sunlight at the annual book sale. Some libraries receive so many donations that they can't handle the volume, and are forced to decline donations in the name of practicality. Here is a list of ideas for managing the hundreds and thousands of donated and weeded books that libraries must find a solution to every year. 

1. Hide Them at IKEA

Whenever I go to IKEA I am always impressed by the illusion that the micro-apartments on display are inhabited. There are clothes in the closets, toothbrushes on the steel-plated bathroom sink, and books everywhere. But, they’re all in Swedish, and tend to be multiple copies of the same book. Why not hide your unwanted tomes among the Swedish novels? At the very least, it will give fighting couples something to look at when fuming after a disagreement over which sleek black armchair to purchase.

2. Donate Them Elsewhere

Some libraries want to keep their weeded and donated books within their communities, so they will donate the books to local charities. Some charities, like the Salvation Army, will even pick the books up, saving libraries the hassle of transport. Many children’s literacy organizations are also happy to take donations of children’s books for their programs. Ask around your community to find out where the need is! 

3.  Make Them Into Art

There are so many lovely art projects that can be done with books! Whether it’s the pages, the binding, illustrations, or the whole book itself, there are innumerable ways to make a book into something new and beautiful. Check out our “Book Crafts” Pinterest board for more ideas.

 4. Revamp the Circulation Desk

While any old old desk will do, one made from books adds a special touch to a library’s atmosphere. It may take a while to collect the right size and number of books to make this work, but the payoff is gorgeous! This desk from Delft University of Technology is just stunning! 

5. Partner With B-Logistics to Sell Them Online

What better way to relieve your library of an over-abundance of weeded and donated materials than to partner with a reliable seller who will give back a percentage of the sale? With B-Logistics there is no scanning and no sorting, we take everything and do all the work for you! We donate or recycle everything that cannot be sold, so nothing goes to waste. Why not give it a try? Please visit our website and ask us how we can help you get started today!

Five Ways Libraries Can Go Green for Spring

1. Plant a Micro Garden

Gardens are great educational tools for teaching children and adults alike about where their food comes from. Micro gardens can be easily created out of old coffee cups, baking pans, or even planters brought indoors. Herbs are a perfect choice to grow in your micro garden, and can grow year-round. Hang them by windows, or display on bookshelves to bring the Springtime indoors!

2. Create a Seed Library

 Seed libraries are all the rage right now, and are excellent ways to promote home gardening and sustain agricultural diversity. A seed library is a perfect sister-program to a micro-garden, and encourages patrons to share the bounty of their gardens. Libraries can work together with local farms and community gardens to initiate the inventory and to educate gardeners about how to collect and store seeds so they can be returned at the end of the season. With a seed catalog and a planting calendar, you will be all set to start your community seed garden! Check out this blog for more information on how to start a seed library http://mrbrownthumb.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-start-seed-library-in-your.html

3. Create a "Green" Display for Earth Day

Earth Day is fast approaching on April 22, and is the perfect opportunity to display green-related materials. Topics could include environmental groups, recycling, agriculture, renewable energies, and even the color green (who doesn’t love an excuse to display Green Eggs and Ham?). Include some fliers with local recycling information, and your library is bound to be one of the greenest spots in town!

4. Host a "Stuff Swap"

Stuff Swaps are great ways to re-purpose unwanted items within a community. Almost everyone has clothing, books, CD’s, DVD’s, furniture and electronics that they no longer use, but haven’t found a better purpose for yet. Whether the swap focuses on specific items or stuff in general, participants will walk away with something new, and will know that their old items are going to a good home. Items left over at the end of the event can be donated to local charities, thrift stores, or homeless shelters. 

5. Re-purpose Library Books

Every library has books they no longer use, but what happens to them? Many end up in paper recycling receptacles, while some meet their unfortunate end in a dumpster. While many libraries are looking for environmentally responsible ways to handle these materials, they are also finding themselves to be one of the main repositories for books donations by the public. All these books can be overwhelming! Book sales are a staple of just about every library's yearly calendar, but inevitably, when the sale ends, a number of books still remain. Working with B-Logistics is the perfect solution to solving the problem of having too many weeded and donated books. B-Logistics will list salable books in the online marketplace, donate appropriate materials to charity partners, and responsibly recycle the rest! Visit www.blogistics.com to find out more!