The Evanston Public library has placed a book bin outside the main library to make it easier for residents to contribute used books.
Not all of the books will end up on the facility’s shelves, the library said in a news release. Many, if not most, of the books will be donated to Better World Books, a for-profit social enterprise and a global e-retailer that collects and sells new and used books online, matching each purchase with a book donation.
Books are sold online to help raise funds for non-profit literacy organizations, with a portion of the sales of all books donated at the EPL donation site going to the Evanston Public Library.
The big, green, Better World Books bin is located outside the main Evanston Public Library, at 1703 Orrington Ave., on the east side of the library. Books can be dropped off there on a 24-hour basis.
Better World Books needs a better bin.
The Library’s effort to revive book donations via its new Better World Books collection bin has created a new problem: overflow. That was painfully obvious after bags of books that were placed on the ground next to the overflowing bin – doubtless with good intentions – were totally soaked and unusable after today’s double downpours. Perhaps Goodwill or Market Place Books could have used them, had there been a notice on the bin to take them elsewhere if it’s full. I sent a photo of the situation to EPL director Karen Lyons, requesting this and that the bin be emptied more often if possible. I for one will be less inclined to use it now.