[Bookstoprisoners] Re: BooksToPrisoners Digest, Vol 24, Issue 19

[adiaz25 at uiuc.edu]

I agree with Niloofar, and I think it's kind of appalling that people think that it's ok to steal books from the donation bins.  Inmates don't have the same kind of access to books as everyone else-- If the people at Strawberry Fields or wherever want books and don't want to pay for them, I don't see why they don't just go to the library.  I think the best solution to the problem would be to make the donation sign bigger, and specifically put a sign on the bins that says "Please do not remove books from bins."  People may think that it's ok to take a few books, but if many people think that, it can significantly drain our resources.  And, of course, it is probably the best books that they're taking (both in terms of interestingness and in terms of resale value).  I don't understand why anyone would want to do this to a non-profit that is trying to help disadvantaged people, and I think that such a sign on the bins would help to deter theft. 

-April

---- Original message ----
>Date: Fri,  1 Jun 2007 13:11:13 -0500 (CDT)
>From: bookstoprisoners-request at lists.chambana.net  
>Subject: BooksToPrisoners Digest, Vol 24, Issue 19  
>To: bookstoprisoners at lists.chambana.net
>
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>Today's Topics:
>
>   1. just an idea . . . (Jacqueline Hannah)
>   2. Terre Haute letter (Brian Dolinar)
>   3. Re: just an idea . . . (Jay Schubert)
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Message: 1
>Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 12:09:50 -0500
>From: "Jacqueline Hannah" <jzwhannah at gmail.com>
>Subject: [Bookstoprisoners] just an idea . . .
>To: bookstoprisoners at lists.chambana.net
>Message-ID:
>	<ae7637780705301009s61e4f662pddefb3d8dcc8ef1a at mail.gmail.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>Hello all,
>
>I am a lurker, I use to be involved in packing parties years ago now and I
>am hoping to get involved again soon.  Just wanted to share an insight -
>
>I use to work at Strawberry Fields and now work at Common Ground Food
>Co-op.  Both of these stores are drop off sites for BTP.  I can tell you
>from working at both that people "shop" the drop off bins.  Many feel guilty
>about it, but everyone does it.  What I have heard over and over, though, is
>that folks wish there were a donation envelope they could pick up or
>something to send BTP some money for the books they pick up.  Of course, you
>probably don't want to encourage the book "shopping" at the drop off bins,
>but if there were just a little envelope on the side of each drop off box
>with pre-addressed envelopes and simple donation cards (photocopied, cheap)
>inside it might encourage more donations both from the shoppers and the
>grateful book donators (of which I am often one) who appreciate somewhere to
>take these books so they don't go to landfills.
>
>If the sounded like something BTP would like to pursue and the help was
>needed, I would be happy to design a basic donation reply form to fit into
>standard envelopes and get them copied and cut.  If this doesn't sound like
>it would work for BTP or isn't something practical to impliment at this
>time, that's fine too.  Just thought I'd share what I had been hearing from
>dozens of community members.
>
>- Jacqueline Hannah
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>Message: 2
>Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 13:39:45 -0500
>From: "Brian Dolinar" <briandolinar at gmail.com>
>Subject: [Bookstoprisoners] Terre Haute letter
>To: BTP <bookstoprisoners at lists.chambana.net>
>Message-ID:
>	<cbbb12c20705301139i45059578o4e8ea473296b0acf at mail.gmail.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>Anybody seen where my letter from Terre Haute is?
>
>BD
>-- 
>Brian Dolinar, Ph.D.
>303 W. Locust St.
>Urbana, IL 61801
>briandolinar at gmail.com
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>
>Message: 3
>Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 16:02:07 -0500
>From: "Jay Schubert" <jay.schubert at gmail.com>
>Subject: Re: [Bookstoprisoners] just an idea . . .
>To: "Jacqueline Hannah" <jzwhannah at gmail.com>,	"Sandra Ahten"
>	<sandra.ahten at gmail.com>
>Cc: bookstoprisoners at lists.chambana.net
>Message-ID:
>	<4bbf615f0705301402u17d0af65x8b5b44a3d2dbaa55 at mail.gmail.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>Jacqueline,
>
>What an interesting idea and solution to this issue!  I'm not at all
>surprised to hear that people pull books out of the collection bins (I
>personally also pull the occasional book from the shelves of our packing
>facility) and that they feel like they'd like to be able to contribute
>financially when they do.  We enjoy the fortunate position of having no
>particular shortage of books but do have a constant need for funds to ship
>them out.  In this way, this idea sounds great.
>
>My only concern would be that, as much as it sometimes may not look to be
>the case, we really try to empty the bins as often as possible and I'd hate
>to give any impression that we're selling books (or offering them in
>exchange for donations) out of the space that these businesses graciously
>offer to be used to facilitate donations.
>
>I'd say that if you keep it as simple as you mention in your email (not
>implying that we're encouraging people to shop the bins), it would be great!
>
>As far as where to send and how to address the checks when people send in
>the card, perhaps Sandra can tell us.  She mentioned to me the other day
>that some of our donation info on the web site may be out of date as our
>financial arrangement with the IMC has changed recently.  Sandra, can you
>comment?
>
>Thanks,
>Jay
>
>
>
>On 5/30/07, Jacqueline Hannah <jzwhannah at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> I am a lurker, I use to be involved in packing parties years ago now and I
>> am hoping to get involved again soon.  Just wanted to share an insight -
>>
>> I use to work at Strawberry Fields and now work at Common Ground Food
>> Co-op.  Both of these stores are drop off sites for BTP.  I can tell you
>> from working at both that people "shop" the drop off bins.  Many feel guilty
>> about it, but everyone does it.  What I have heard over and over, though, is
>> that folks wish there were a donation envelope they could pick up or
>> something to send BTP some money for the books they pick up.  Of course, you
>> probably don't want to encourage the book "shopping" at the drop off bins,
>> but if there were just a little envelope on the side of each drop off box
>> with pre-addressed envelopes and simple donation cards (photocopied, cheap)
>> inside it might encourage more donations both from the shoppers and the
>> grateful book donators (of which I am often one) who appreciate somewhere to
>> take these books so they don't go to landfills.
>>
>> If the sounded like something BTP would like to pursue and the help was
>> needed, I would be happy to design a basic donation reply form to fit into
>> standard envelopes and get them copied and cut.  If this doesn't sound like
>> it would work for BTP or isn't something practical to impliment at this
>> time, that's fine too.  Just thought I'd share what I had been hearing from
>> dozens of community members.
>>
>> - Jacqueline Hannah
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> BooksToPrisoners mailing list
>> BooksToPrisoners at lists.chambana.net
>> http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/bookstoprisoners
>>
>>
>
>
>-- 
>Jay
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>End of BooksToPrisoners Digest, Vol 24, Issue 19
>************************************************