I made a pre-emptive strike to the library this weekend.
I always seem to run out of reading material when it’s closed. And yes, I know I could download a book to my iPad – and have – but I greatly prefer holding an actual text in my hands and turning pages.Happily, I snagged another Elly Griffiths (archeology professor who assists police), an Ann Cleeves (Shetland series) I hope I haven’t already read, and someone new for me, Julia Glass. Our town library is pretty small, so finding something new is a bonus.
I shouldn’t say that, though. New books are arriving all the time. There seems to be an ongoing campaign to rid the shelves of books that have sat there awhile in order to bring in the new. Unfortunately, this means that I doubt if I’ll ever find again a Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham, or Elmore Leonard. It also means that even though I was asked to contribute two mysteries I’ve written, I no longer see them on the shelves either.
A nameplate had been torn from the front of the book; it must have been a donation to the recent book sale. Given my library’s penchant for purges, I figured I’d be unlikely to find it among the regular offerings.
I am a big fan of both Elly Griffiths and Ann Cleeves, and just finished reading her latest Vera mystery the other day. That's a shame that your library tends to get rid of books. Isn't the point of a library to be a collection? I hope your books are still there somewhere! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteI suspect it's a simple matter of space.
DeleteThere is only so much shelf space in libraries. New books are necessary. Books that have not been checked out for ages always go first. Why keep them if no one reads them?
DeleteThe libraries around here are usually too small for the collection as soon as they're built. There are always many books in storage for lack of shelf space. So it wouldn't surprise me if a small library has small storage, and is forced to turn over books quickly. It does feel like a loss though.
ReplyDeleteAnd how else can they stay up to date with the new releases? Too bad for me, who favors 1930s novel.
DeleteI rarely purchase an actual book these days, since my Kindle allows me to boldface and enlarge the type, which makes my eyes go for longer periods than otherwise.
ReplyDeleteHow I love libraries. Like you I much prefer 'real' books. I like the weight and the smell of them, and find them much easier to flip through and look for that elusive passage I remember.
ReplyDeleteOur local library does purges too. Sigh.
Now I understand why my libraries storage closed never has fewer books, if they move in a new lot of purges after every sale.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to my nearest library since the Community Bus stopped running. To get there now I have to catch a bus to the city, then another bus to the library suburb. This is why I have dozens of books waiting on my kindle. I do still love real books though.
ReplyDeleteI've read some of Elmore Leonard, but only the ones that started the "Justified" TV series.
Until I found drive-by pickup at the library during Covid, I was very sad. Having to make such a trek to your own library is awful.
DeleteOur library is pretty decent but I'll often go in with a list of books people have said they liked and maybe the library will have one or two. One of the nice things about our library is that they have a lend policy with two other libraries in nearby towns.
ReplyDeleteI approve of that haul.
ReplyDelete