HELP!!!!!

[Sluggo]

I have about 35 to 40 novels I would like to donate to the New Orleans Library. I have called every place known to me (Matthew 25 Ministries, St. vincent de Paul, WCPO & other places) & cannot find anyone willing to pay the postage.
Due to medicare telling me, after only six months into the program, that I have reached the limit & have to pay full price for all my medications I cannot afford the postage necessary to get the books to New Orleans.
If anyone knows who I should call could you please let me know.
I am at the point where I will destroy the books.
I am VERY frustrated now.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 06, 2006 05:08 PM: Message edited by: Sluggo ]</font>

[cincygreg]

You might find some of the info you need here Sluggo.

LIBRARIES IN NEED

Maybe a local library can help.

[Sluggo]

Thanks greg. I will try some of those.

[gae]

Sluggo, check out the Snopes page. http://www.snopes.com/katrina/charity/library.asp

[LanDroid]

Yeah, it might be easiest just to donate them at your local branch library. The Hamilton county library system will either use them, send 'em elsewhere, or sell them at the annual downtown shindig. Either way is better than destroying them...

[travelinman]

Let me see

I go to my favorite search engine and type in ?donate books to the New Orleans Library? and I get hundreds of hits.

Here is a random sample:

University of Maryland is trying to donate 3,794 books but can?t

BULLETIN: Due to an outpouring of support and a reduced library staff, New Orleans Public Library has received all the book donations they can process at this time.

There is a non-profit group that does work related to this. The organization's name is First Book and they setup the "Book Relief" program as an immediate response to Hurricane Katrina. The program is still in place and they are still accepting contributions (in fact, they only accept contributions, not actual books). They distribute 1 book for every 50 cents they receive - and the money goes directly to shipping and warehouse costs, so they aren't making any money off of this. So far they have sent thousands of books to families affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes, with more distributions in the works. These books go directly to the children, not a library - and the kids get to keep the books forever, no strings attached. (Full Disclosure: I work with First Book and have been involved in the Book Relief program.) If you are interested, you can find out more about First Book and Book Relief at these sites: www.firstbook.org, and www.bookrelief.org

And direct from the New Orleans Public Library web site:

NOPL has been overwhelmed by the generosity of people across the country who have donated an estimated 1 million books of all kinds, conditions, and subjects. (Can anyone use hundreds of Russian grammar books?) We are grateful for this assistance, and will put all these books to the most appropriate uses possible. However due to extreme storage and staff limitations, we ask you to avoid sending books directly to NOPL.

Instead please consider the alternatives suggested in the FAQ below.
If you are a publisher, please contact us in advance at [email protected] before shipping any books.

If you have questions after reading the FAQ, e-mail us at [email protected]. We will strive to reply quickly.

What is the best way to help New Orleans Public Library?

Monetary donations are the best way to help the library rebuild (link here to donate online). If you would rather mail your donation, please make your check payable to NOPL Foundation and send it to New Orleans Public Library Foundation, 219 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 7011

Since you can't donate your books to the NOPL I suggest selling thme to Half Priced Books.

From their web site:

Things we believe no one should waste: paper, knowledge, trees, words, time, and money. Half Price Books is the book recycler. We buy books you've already enjoyed. So if you have more books than shelves, bring yours to us today. We pay the most for recent best sellers and collectibles. But we're also interested in your children's books, mysteries, music, movies and games. We donate all our overstock inventory to nonprofit agencies around the world.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 07, 2006 06:48 AM: Message edited by: travelinman ]</font>

[cincygreg]

Maybe the Salvation Army or something like that.

You could, take them to a used book store, sell them and then send whatever you made off them to charity.