Homeless animals and unwanted books

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this column is to consider similarities of unwanted dogs and cats and books to be weeded, in order to find new destinations for discarded books.

Design/methodology/approach

The author applied the No Kill Declaration's underlying premise, that death should not be an option for resolving the problem of homeless animals, to books being removed from a library's collection.

Findings

By declaring dumpsters and recycling boxes off limits for books, the author found that offering books for surplus bids, persisting in investigating book sale rules, and working with campus philanthropy groups could be viable options.

Originality/value

In comparing wholesale dumping of library books to mass killing of dogs and cats, librarians might be reminded of books’ inherent worth.

Citation

Steele, K. (2011), "Homeless animals and unwanted books", The Bottom Line, Vol. 24 No. 2, pp. 107-109. https://doi.org/10.1108/08880451111169133