Think that libraries are in dire financial straits? And perhaps that a good thing to do -- as well as a green thing, given that people would be reusing resources -- would be to donate some of your books?  Oh, that it were only so easy.

Not long ago, I went through my bookshelves and filled two boxes with ones I didn't want any more.  Some were probably dogs, to be sure, but there was also a hardback copy of the bestseller, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." Stuff like that. 

I started with the Book Corner store of the Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia and pulled over out front. As I approached the door, I saw a foreboding sign: It said you need to make an appointment before you donate.  Incredulous, I went in anyway.  Maybe 50 people were actually hiding behind the shelves, but it looked to me like the store was totally empty, except for one guy reading at the front counter.  "I have two boxes of books in my car," I said.  "Do I really need an appointment?" He nodded and went back to reading.  I walked out the door.

I'm sure I offended on several levels.  The Friends website notes: "Book Corner operates solely through public donations. We strive to manage our donations so that we offer only an exciting blend of gently used books in all genres. Thanks for assisting us by adhering to the following procedures."  Then it lists four categories of items they do want, five categories of items they don't and three instructions for donating.  

A few days later, on a Saturday morning errands run, my husband and I stopped by the Pottstown library. We carried the boxes up cracked cement steps and entered the dismal building.  Surely they would want these books. Turns out they had a sign, too, announcing their used book sale.  "Great," I thought. "They won't even have to store these books.  Just whisk them from box to table and be done with it."

Four women were at the counter. One took charge of the situation, shaking her head vigorously. No way could they deal with books that day. The people running the sale would "kill" them if they brought down any more. We carried the boxes of books back to our car. All we were doing was wasting gas.

This is not, by the way, a new development.  Until a few years ago, I reviewed audio books for the newspaper, and you wouldn't believe how hard it was sometimes to donate never-opened books on CD with bestseller titles. (Some libraries,  naturally, leapt at the opportunity. But not all.) 

I've always loved libraries. Even more so now. They offer one of the greenest ways to read a book. But I just don't know what to make of this. Clearly, we are a wealthy nation with a glut of books and not even libraries that cry poor can use them. How sad.

I gave "The Girl With the Dragon  Tattoo" to my sister.