Where do your donated books go?

The Olivedale Library, a beacon of community spirit and literary enrichment has a dedicated team of volunteers known as the Friends of Olivedale Library (FOOLS). This passionate group ensures that donated books find meaningful new homes, creating a culture of reading and support within and beyond the community.

According to member Helen Stonebank, community members donate books for several reasons. “They no longer read them, are moving abroad, clearing out their homes, or simply wish to share the joy of reading.” Secretary Eleanor Woodman said that these donations not only come from local residents but also from neighbouring libraries that lack a similar support network. Once these books arrive at Olivedale Library, their journey is just beginning.

The donated books are first taken to the sorting room, where they are stacked against the wall, awaiting careful examination. The real work starts here, as members sort through each book, determining its next destination. The process is thorough and thoughtful, ensuring that every book finds its most suitable new home.

Woodman and Stonebank explain what happens to the books after they’ve been donated to the library:

• Library shelves: Many of the donated books are added directly to the Olivedale Library’s collection, enhancing the range and diversity of available titles.
• Book sales: Books that are not integrated into the library’s collection are placed into the sale stock room, waiting for the next community book sale. Proceeds from these sales are reinvested into the library.
• Prisons: Each month, a librarian collects books for male and female prisons. Only carefully selected fiction, excluding crime and thrillers, along with self-help, religious, and DIY books, are sent. These selections aim to support rehabilitation by providing educational resources. Woodman explained, “Reading can be a powerful tool for rehabilitation in the prisons. It opens up new worlds and perspectives, helping prisoners envision a better future for themselves.”
• The Ann Harding Home in Northwold: These books are provided for free, bringing comfort and entertainment to the residents.
• Schools and students: Donated books are distributed to local schools, enhancing the educational resources available to students and creating a love for reading from a young age. Stonebank shared, “Reading is essential for children. It not only improves their literacy skills but also ignites their imagination and curiosity about the world.”
• Gated pensioner communities: Some books make their way to these communities, offering leisure reading for retired residents.
• Recycling: Books that are outdated or in poor condition are sent to a recycling company. This company pays FOOLS by weight for the recyclable paper, and while they don’t get much, Woodman said that every contribution helps.
• Library foyer: Only paper materials are accepted for recycling, so any donated videos or CDs are placed in a box in the library foyer, available for free to anyone interested.

The money raised from book sales and recycling efforts is channelled back into the library to purchase new books. This cycle of donation, sorting, and redistribution not only keeps books in circulation but also strengthens the community by providing resources to those who need them most.

The next FOOLS Book Sale will take place on June 28, at the Olivedale Library.

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