Not to mention that the library will probably put most of them on the book sale trolley. Most public libraries can't afford to accession everything they're donated.
Libraries in the States are probably generally larger and have more room, but they would still be just as ruthless about only accessioning material that is likely to circulate or be used. There have been studies showing that circulation rises if stock is weeded regularly.
malaheed gave hundreds of SF books to his local library when he moved down south. I hardly have the heart to tell him that most of them probably went straight onto a sale trolley and thence into the skip :-(.
Yes, I can imagine that a lot of people would be more likely to borrow newish looking books from less crowded shelves. (I realised as a child I was unusual in liking my parents' old editions of the classics, rather than ones with shiny new covers.)
Perhaps it's just a personal thing, then. I'd give books to a charity shop or fund-raising event, but not a library.
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Date: 2010-10-09 01:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-09 02:19 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2010-10-09 05:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-10 09:04 pm (UTC)(It strikes me as a possibly rather American idea, though I may just be making unwarranted assumptions.)
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Date: 2010-10-10 09:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-10 09:35 pm (UTC)Perhaps it's just a personal thing, then. I'd give books to a charity shop or fund-raising event, but not a library.