Book Sale Filled with Worst Best Sellers

A hate campaign has been launched against the Banned Library’s Friends of the Library book sale. Mercy Rogers, 66, has been very vocal in the Bannville Sentinel’s Opinion section as well as the suggestion box that stands on the circulation desk at the library. Contents of the sale has been the largest item of contention.

“There’s always old and broken books in there,” Rogers said, “I’m on a fixed income and this sale is the best place for me to get some quality reading. Why can’t the library afford some new books to sell?”

Upon inspection of the book sale, it was found that nearly 90 percent of the items were either in disrepair or were over a year past their publication date.  Items included 12 copies of Moneyball by Michael Lewis and a partially eaten copy of The Cat in the Hat.

Evan Banned, director of the Banned Library, had this to say:

“The book sale is primarily available for us to make some money on books that have fallen below library standards, either by not being checked out or because it is not worth it for us to fix them. The reason they are so low in price is because we want them to be bought. They are used items, sometimes hundreds of times. We just want them to find homes. The money is used by the Friends of the Library to make improvements or put on programs at the library. Now, why are you always asking me these questions? It’s almost as if you are reporting...”

As the book sale is not within the library’s budget, the money earned by the sale was not available in the public budget. One can only wonder what the library is hiding by putting the money in the private organization. “Friends” indeed.

Friends of the Library Attempt to Create Friendster Account

After being told the library's fund raising organization should become more social network friendly, the Banned Library Friends of the Library's president, Betsy Farmer, attempted to create a Friendster account despite the site only existing as a social gaming platform.

"Listen," Farmer said, "I remember asking my nephew years ago what he did online, and all he could talk about was this Friendster thing.  I remember him going on and on about how he and his friends could talk and message each other.  I know that's what it was because I told him 'Teddy bear' That's what we call him, 'Teddy Bear,' I said, 'That is the cutest thing.  Do you know that Auntie Bets is also a Friend.  Of the Library.'  He thought that was so funny."

Despite repeated attempts to convince Farmer that Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus or even Myspace were better platforms, Farmer has created an account.  You can find them at username bannedfriends playing Sodoku Combat.  

Community in Conflict, Book Donation Business Told To Move On

Marin, CA library supporters are waging a boring war on book donation boxes placed around their city.  The book donation boxes are placed by the Thrift Recycling Management company, a for-profit venture that recycles the items.

"Of the books collected in the bins, approximately 25 percent are resold, another 25 percent are donated to nonprofits, and the rest are sold for their value as pulp, [TRM co-founder Phil] McMullin said." MarinIJ

"Friends of the Library" groups complain that the books take away donations to libraries that could be used to fund the library through book sales or replace old library copies.  TMR has been under suspicion for not being as charitable as they claim, selling most of the items instead of donating them as they claim.  Marin Independent Journal

Okay, in this corner we have people profiting from old hippie ideals about saving mother earth.  They weigh in at approximately the size of capitalism and are looking to make a buck on the feelings that people are doing good by the planet by recycling.  They have made millions.

In the other corner we have people looking to enrich their lives by saying the library can benefit from a cubic ton of old National Geographics and books that may or may not have been pooped on by a rat.  These people may or may not collect and sort the materials donated to the library, but do feel a sense of satisfaction when they vote to buy a computer or maybe that god-awful book shaped reading furniture for the children's department when they meet once a year.

Solution:  Put the bins at libraries.  Allow the library system to sort the materials it wants and give the for-profit the leftovers.  Or just let the company do what it does until the Oregon Department of Justice shuts them down for being a fake charity.  Or a five on five deathmatch, Friends VS Thrift in a winner take all pay-per-view for the fate of the county.