Found out my local library throws out hundreds of books a month

I was chatting with the librarian at the Cedar Rapids public library last week while picking up a hold. She mentioned offhand that they have to 'weed' the collection regularly to make space, and they end up tossing about 300 books a month into the recycling because they can't sell them all at the tiny book sales. I always assumed unsold books got donated somewhere. It feels wrong to just destroy them, especially when schools or little free libraries might want them. What do you think the library's responsibility is here? Should they try harder to find homes for them, or is recycling the only practical option?

2 comments

2 Comments

amygonzalez21d ago

That's a huge waste. Libraries should partner with schools or prisons before recycling. Three hundred books a month is a lot to just throw away. They could at least post a free box outside.

matthewperry21d ago

Wow, that's rough. My buddy works at a school in a poorer district. Their library budget got cut. He tried to get free books from our city library's discards. They told him it was too much paperwork to sort and hold them. He ended up taking a bunch from the recycling bin himself after hours. Felt shady, but the kids got the books.