I have respectfully requested that the Library immediately stop discarding
any books until further notice to allow the Library Board to have a
discussion about our library collection development policy and procedures.
I do favor a library collection development policy that "weeds" books that
are unreliable (outdated information) and books are not repairable, but I
do not support throwing hundreds of books into the trash that could find a
better home.
I want to make sure we have explored all viable options before books are
discarded.
Thank you,
Rod Krueger
Library Board / Nokomis East
www.rodkrueger.org
Library Throwing Away Books as reported on KMSP Fox 9 5/25/05
http://www.kmsp.com/search/story.asp?1645730
These are strange times for the Minneapolis Public Library system. As they
build a new one hundred twenty-five million dollar central library behind me
a quarter of the staff's been laid off. Library hours have been cut by a
third. Just when you'd think they'd be holding on to every precious book,
we found them throwing them away.
"Book on Orwell here.
If you live by the adage waste not, want not.
"Tennessee Williams, one of the great playwrights of our time."
You might want to check out the dumpsters of Minneapolis public libraries.
"Biography of Emily Dickinson."
While the East Lake Street library is closed for renovation we found some of
the great writers and thinkers of our time�
"All these are biographies."
In their trash.
"We didn't even get very far down in the trash and we got all these
biographies of famous writers and playwrights. They look in good condition
and they're throwing them all away."
We discovered other libraries tossing books too. These pictures show the
dumpster behind the public library in northeast Minneapolis. Loaded with
what appears to be children's books. A local blogger took these pictures
and posted them on a web site.
Library volunteers tell the FOX 9 Investigators, hundreds of books were
thrown away at the north side library, which is also closed for renovation.
"We have librarians who review the material title by title who make the
decisions of what to weed and what to retain."
Minneapolis Library Director Kit Hadley says it happens all the time. Some
books literally have a shelf life like medical and science books that are
twenty or thirty years out of date.
"A Step by Step Guide to Declaring Bankruptcy under a law that no longer
exists."
Last year alone more than fourteen thousand books were weeded out of the
Central Library. No one can tell us how many ended up in the trash, but
some ended up here: at the Friends of the Library bookstore, where they're
sold, sometimes for just a quarter.
"Nobody likes to say this but there are some books that at some point you
just can't find someone to take them from you."
Problem is, the library can't even give them away because under state law:
"if the library board decides not to sell or donate materials to another
public (body), then a public sale is required." no freebies allowed.
"Are you a big poet, we got E.E. Cummings. I think I'll take one on
poetry."
But if the libraries hands are tied, ours are not. And we found plenty of
takers.
KMSP
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris David
Columbia Park
[Mpls] RE: Minneapolis Public Library Caught Throwing Books in Dumpster
Monday, May 02, 2005
The library per law may discard property with no or little value. The law
allows the library to transfer property to another government agency
(provided
they want it). The Library Board may NOT give public property to private
entities without receiving consideration. The library may withdraw
materials
from its collection and donate them directly to the Friends of MPL. The
Library Board receives consideration for its donation in the form of
volunteer
services and financial support from the Friends.
I have asked Library Director Hadley to seek an updated City Attorney
opinion
on this issue.
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