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Book dumping in Fresno County has residents fuming
ABC30 ^ | 12/16/2010 | Tommy Tran

Posted on 12/17/2010 10:14:37 AM PST by gracie1

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Citizens in two west Fresno County towns are outraged after learning potentially thousands of library books -- have been intentionally tossed in the trash.

This story involves public libraries in Huron and Coalinga. But the head librarian says the book dump isn't what it seems.

Some residents in Coalinga are worried about the future of the library and their upset over the fact that thousands of books have literally been thrown away. But the director tells me it's a necessary step to bring this place up to code.

Book lovers joined forces Thursday night angry over a decision by local library officials to toss out thousands of library books.

One of the activists snapped these photos of a mountainous pile of books in the library's dumpster. And some claim up to 22,000 books got thrown away.

(Excerpt) Read more at abclocal.go.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: schools
My husband works for a recycler in the county. He has brought home books, magazines and records that have been tossed because he can't bring himself at times to destroy good books. Some are somewhat outdated or damaged, but he brought home a full set of Harry Potter books a few years ago in good condition. The statement from Kreamer about 3rd world countries is crap. How does math change over the years? And isn't a 6th grade level book better than no books?
1 posted on 12/17/2010 10:14:45 AM PST by gracie1
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To: gracie1

Many have branded the Harry Potter books anti-Christian and pro witchcraft and want the schools and libraries to ban them.

I don’t know because I have never read or seen anything but advertisements regarding the Harry Potter issue.


2 posted on 12/17/2010 10:21:34 AM PST by B4Ranch (Do NOT remain seated until this ride comes to a full and complete stop! We're going the wrong way!)
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To: gracie1

These are old books. Yeah the old books that have the truth in print. They are dangerous to the LIBS!


3 posted on 12/17/2010 10:22:49 AM PST by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: gracie1

This is outrageous.

There are plenty of charitable organizations that will take donated library books, sort and resell and exhaust many volunteer hours to keep from having to throw away ANY books.

My retired parents have been volunteering once a week for a couple of decades for one such group in their hometown.


4 posted on 12/17/2010 10:29:09 AM PST by Rebelbase
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To: gracie1
How does math change over the years?

While the math itself doesn't change, quite often, new, more confusing methods of not teaching it are rolled out by the education establishment.

5 posted on 12/17/2010 10:31:09 AM PST by Bob
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To: B4Ranch

I haven’t read them either, and I would prefer to have children read christian inspired books, but to ban them outright is censorship the same as banning C.S. Lewis books. My issue with the book dump is these are perfectly good books, not damaged or outdated in anyway.

Many of the books my husband has brought home were story books he remembered from his school days. We gave them to our grandson.


6 posted on 12/17/2010 10:31:58 AM PST by gracie1 (Look, just because you have to tolerate something doesnÂ’t mean you have to approve of it. - Mr Mack)
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To: gracie1

Guess they have never heard of “book sales” to support the local libraries. Oh yeah, they would rather depend on taxpayer monies paying the bills. Too much work for them otherwise.


7 posted on 12/17/2010 10:33:39 AM PST by taxesareforever (Release Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich and let him and his family get on with their lives.)
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To: gracie1

The library in my area have a book sale as a fundraiser every year, many good and some near new ones are on sale,
hard cover are $1,oo and paperbacks are $0.50, it is at the local mall and last three days, it is always a hilight


8 posted on 12/17/2010 10:35:57 AM PST by munin (Enki did it, George Bush did it)
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To: gracie1
"If we have a third world country and we give them an old math book from when you were six years old, is that fair? I mean they will only come to that level. They will not be up to our standards." said Kreamer.

Better to keep them completely ignorant, eh Kreamer? And speaking of ignorant ...

9 posted on 12/17/2010 10:39:09 AM PST by NonValueAdded (Palin 2012: don't retreat, just reload)
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To: gracie1
What a useless link.

Most of the books are likely being dumped from the children's section because they contain a lead content that was recently determined detrimental to children and outlawed by the 110 or 111 congress. Lawsuits and whatnot.

One of those things that was in a bill we had to pass to see what was in it.

It is not like anyone reads books or Bills anymore.

10 posted on 12/17/2010 10:47:56 AM PST by mmercier (moving with real purpose)
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To: jimmango
... and their upset over the fact that thousands ...

Maybe the editor should read some of those old books ... their not = they're
11 posted on 12/17/2010 11:10:05 AM PST by jimmango
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To: gracie1
I haven’t read them either, and I would prefer to have children read christian inspired books, but to ban them outright is censorship the same as banning C.S. Lewis books.

You might be surprised to know that the whole Harry Potter series reflects Christian themes.

And it's no accident that Rowling borrows significantly from important characters and themes in Lewis' and Tolkein's books.

Give 'em a read. They're good fun, and have a great message.

12 posted on 12/17/2010 11:20:00 AM PST by r9etb
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To: Rebelbase
There are plenty of charitable organizations that will take donated library books

Several local libraries donated almost 50 paper sized boxes to the "Wounded Warrior" program at Ft. Sam. Let me tell you one thing, it doesn't matter how old or outdated they were, the troops loved the books.

13 posted on 12/17/2010 12:17:07 PM PST by Arrowhead1952 (Whether corruption is in politics, science, education, research, etc., always follow the money.)
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To: NonValueAdded
"If we have a third world country and we give them an old math book from when you were six years old, is that fair? I mean they will only come to that level. They will not be up to our standards." said Kreamer.

I have a set of encyclopedias from the late 1800s that has a better table of integrals than my calculus book in college.

I enjoy Nero Wolfe, Hercule Poirot & Miss Marple mysteries from the twenties and thirties - with only minor mental adjustments for technology they're great reads today.

Gimme an old book anytime.

14 posted on 12/17/2010 1:55:55 PM PST by jimt
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To: jimt
And if it was an 8th grade textbook from 1895 they'd leave our kids of today in the dust:

Could You Have Passed the 8th Grade in 1895?

15 posted on 12/17/2010 2:00:23 PM PST by NonValueAdded (Palin 2012: don't retreat, just reload)
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