What's Up with the Free Stuff?

If you've been in our hallway lately or popped into the library, you may have noticed a box that says "Free Books." I'll bet some of you are thinking, "Why is the library giving away books, I thought they needed books?"

Yes, of course we need books. But we need books that people want to read. Believe it or not, a book, like most physical objects, has a limited life span. To be part of a library where lots of people will use it, it needs to have a strong spine and all its pages. Over time, after many students have had the chance to enjoy its contents, a book starts to fall apart. At that point, it can't hold up in a library setting, but could find a home in the hands of an individual person.

Another reason we remove books from the library is that the information inside is outdated. I recently found a biology book on the shelves from the 1960's. While the basics remain the same, there have been many new discoveries in the last 40 years which a student might want to know about. So, I pulled it from our library and put it in the free box. While I wouldn't recommend it for finding biology information, someone might want to use the illustrations for a project. In fact, there are people who collect old books for the illustrations, which they remove and frame as art!

So next time you stroll by, check the box and maybe you'll find a book you want to take home.

Just Added: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Author: Sherman Alexie

Format/Genre: Realistic fiction

Reading Level: V

Summary: In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by acclaimed artist Ellen Forney, that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.

Ms. Evans says: National Book Award Winner! Local author! Excellent writing! Universal themes! Need I say more?