What books do libraries desire the most? The least?

I think dvds are the “sex appeal” of libraries, so people go in to libraries now, and happen to see an interesting book on the way to the dvd section. For books, I’m guessing, it’s best sellers or classics.

It might depend on the region the library is in, as well as their current inventory. For example, the crafts section in the local library here is stuffed with 1) 40-year-old books and 2) quilting books. That’s great for some people, but if the library wants to cater to as wide a spectrum as possible, they may want newer and more varied titles.

What would they want the least? Out-of-date reference manuals or encyclopedias. Just a guess.

@everephebe Do you (or does anyone) know if they take DVDs that are no longer in a case? Because I’ve got tons of them without cases…

@MyNewtBoobs, I think they do, but I would call your local library up and see first. I’ve seen dvds with printed out cover art.

@peridot and @everephebe have mentioned, I think it really depends on the library. On what is currently in their collection and what areas they might want to expand or what subjects they are lacking so I would call up your local library and find out what they want and need. My rule of thumb is generally not to donate things that are more trouble to the people I donate them too than they are worth to them. Unfortunately, many things are donated to organizations that only increase costs for them, in terms of sorting them out and disposing of the things they can’t use. They might want the DVD’s but you should ask them. The cost of the manpower required to sort through them and of buying cases for them may not be worth it to the library. And generally anything that quickly becomes dated like almanacs, encyclopedias and textbooks they probably won’t want. And textbooks, as godawful expensive as they are, and as useful as they may seem to be, are really only useful to the people who are required to use them in particular classes.

I think it depends on the type of library. A library that is more catered to the general public might be happier to receive DVDs, music CDs, or popular books. A college library might be happier to receive old manuscripts from famous authors or rare collections.

I think most libraries do not want old textbooks. Oh, and definitely don’t donate any phonebooks! ;)

Our library likes best sellers, reference books, cookbooks, craft books for the shelves. Anything else goes to the friends of the library book sale, and then to libraries in disadvantaged counties.

There are a huge variety of materials that libraries need (I am a librarian, btw).

Not only do different types of libraries – such as academic and public – need different materials, but different libraries in different regions, even towns or neighborhoods in larger cities, will always need different materials depending upon the people who use the library. This is what many librarians do for a living; they create and maintain collections of materials (not just books, but multimedia items and online data) specifically tailored to their user base. There is a LOT of debate in the library community about what is most important to include in any given setting – we dedicate our lives to it and have to get advanced degrees to work as librarians, after all. It involves a lot of personal decisions, and a lot of critical choice as well as research into different user groups and habits.

For donations (because others mentioned them), many libraries will not accept used books for several reasons. Some public libraries – particularly in poor or rural communities – will take used donations, but the vast majority will not.

I was going to chime in as a librarian also but I think @sinistre pretty much has it covered.

Welcome to Fluther @sinistre !

Our local library adores used books and regularly puts them into their stock.

The rest they sell at their annual book sale. The books sale has paid for: The computers, the kids storytime section, wing chairs, new DVD’s-etc.

They request best sellers, DVDs, CDs, audio books, and anything “popular” to keep their stock fresh and to keep membership up.

@sinistre What are the reasons for not taking used books (providing they don’t have writing, highlighting, water damage, etc)?

My local library takes used book donations. Not generally for circulation but to sell in their little used book nook. That’s what I call it at least. They have an area with maybe 300 books, and some tapes and DVDs etc. that have been donated or library books that have been taken out of circulation that they sell for a couple or a few bucks, sometimes more depending on the book and raise money that way. But still, they don’t want junk. They want stuff people want to buy.

@lillycoyote My local library does that too – which I understand more if people are going to be buying them. But when they reject perfectly good books for their library, I feel less sympathetic – especially if then I have to hear how I should check a book out at the library instead of buying it, even when 99% of the books I like aren’t best-sellers.