Wednesday 4 December 2013

Buy A Book For Christmas


When communities are divided over an issue is it more noticeable in a small place? I would say, if not more noticeable, it can get more personal. In our neck of the woods the hot item is the building of a new library.
I belong to a group which raises funds for programmes and equipment at our current teeny, tiny but award winning library. It has been hard not to get caught in the crossfire. We carry on undaunted.

We are having a fundraising book sale. A stroke of  luck led me to some free space at the mall. For two weeks people have dropped off donations of used books. To our suprise we have become a social hub. Maybe it's the treat table: home baking and hot cider, mocha coffee, herbal teas or perhaps the Christmas music. Or maybe it is the friendly Friends of the Library. Whatever the reason it has become a gathering place for people who love the written word. I've been volunteering on a daily basis and it's all fun, even the cobweb covered books and heavy lifting.
                                                                                                                                                                 
 

People have really done us proud. There is a large stack of gardening books, if they don't sell, which I doubt, let me say here and now, they are mine, mine, mine, so back off.

Alas, I have had to abandon the troops. Work and plans for an early Christmas with my darlings have me back in Calgary. We arrived just ahead of a winter storm. I'm hauling on the parka and thick woolly socks.

28 comments:

  1. How wonderful that your town pulled together to donate all of those books! Sounds like a blast and a really cool thing to be a part of! Stay warm friend!

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    1. It has been a combination of fun and some seriously hard work.

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  2. What a nice idea and perfect for brining together the community spirit. I remember visiting a small town way out in the Victorian countryside that was holding a similar sale for similar reasons.
    I like your post heading because we always buy each other books for Christmas and this year I have chosen a fab one but I won't say anything in case my other half reads this blog!
    Bye for now
    Kirk

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    1. Books are at the top of our gift giving list. Once they are opened all goes quiet as we start to read. I hope we get to hear your Christmas book choices after the day.

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  3. Put out food and they will come. What a nice community endeavor and I hope it will be a financial success.

    Enjoy your holidays.

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    1. Yes, food always helps. Our community has a huge Christmas concert followed by ingesting tons of donated baking. A favourite event for everyone in town.

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  4. I love hearing about community projects. I've been involved in many myself and the dedication of volunteers is always inspiring. I love the sound of your project growing beyond its original purpose by becoming a social hub. I hope it all goes really well.
    Take care in the storm.

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    1. The weather has been awful. The sale went really well, over a thousand dollars raised. I think we are all going to miss the social side of it.

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  5. There is nothing like a real book. Our little library has an annual book and bake sale that is a real draw for our community. Change is difficult in small towns - I live in one, too, and although they all want things to change, they want the change without changing. You know what I mean... :) Keep warm!!!

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    1. Oh, yes I know what you mean. Using tax dollars on improvements is also a hot topic, so many needs and a myraid of priorities.

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  6. What a splendid idea - hope everything goes well. I am afraid books are my weakness and if I lived nearby there is no saying how many I would leave with. Take care.

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    1. I really shouldn't volunteer because I buy one or two or three books each time.

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  7. Stay warm in Alberta! We receive regular Edmonton updates from The Little Family That Grew. They are anxious to come to the Island for the holidays!

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  8. what a great thing to volunteer for...I LOVE books too. I hope your library gets so many donations in the form of books and money. Thank you for being strong in your convictions. we are cold down here in spokane as well single digits with below temps at night and during the day with the windchill. Am sure we aren't as cold in calgary.
    stay warm.

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    1. I think your weather is pretty rough too. I don't mind the cold but slippery roads are a nightmare.

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  9. That is a great idea and it does look like a friendly welcoming place. I hope you have a happy holiday season!

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    1. Thank you Dorothy. Warmest wishes to you too.

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  10. I love books too. Most people in our family will get books for Christmas this year:)

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    1. Not only do you read but you write them too.

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  11. Hi Susan, I enjoy reading very much, both paper/hardback and e-books. I enjoy my Kindle. So glad for your fundraising for the library. Libraries are very important in our communities. Good luck!

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    1. I haven't graduated to a kindle yet but I think i might. they seem very handy for travelling. Perfect for long hours on ferries and planes.

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  12. This is a perfect post for this time of year and it is very heartwarming to see people coming together over such a worthy institution. Here in Brampton the library has a large group of computers with allotments of internet time available for users. It is one of the libraries most popular new functions. Perhaps this is something your library-in-the-making might consider in future.

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    1. Hi Jennifer, we have three computers, in use all the time. We need more and the space to locate them. Maybe one day. Until then there is a wonderful camaraderie as we all pull together. I hope we never lose it.

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  13. My house is covered in books. :o) I don't have an electronic book gizmo. I love the smell and heft of a real book. I hope your new library is a huge success. :o)

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    1. I tell people I decorate with books which is my way of explaining the stacks all over the house.

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  14. We dropped by before the sale with a few bags of books, including some of Wayne's Coastal BC Stories titles. Hope the sale went well. The library is a very deserving entity. - Margy

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    1. Hi Margy, sorry I missed you and thank you for your support. We raised $2000. I'm sure Wayne's books were a hot item.

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