Posted on 09/03/2007 2:27:31 PM PDT by decimon
Book Store Owners Protest 'Decline In Reading'
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The owner of a midtown bookstore set fire to hundreds of books on West 39th Street on Sunday.
"We hope to spark a conversation about the importance of books in the face of a marked shrinking in reading trends, and staggering waste streams of actual books," said Prospero's Books owner, Tom Wayne.
Prospero's has publicized for months that it was looking for a good home for thousands of books, and saying it would burn the books if no one wanted them.
Prospero's maintains three outdoor shelves of books for insomniacs, families with loved ones at the nearby KU Medical Center, early riders of the Kansas City bus system or simply those needing a book but who can't afford one. "Payment is on the honor system," said Prosperos co-owner, Will Leathem. "Several mornings a week, we find dollars shoved beneath our door. It has been a great lesson in human nature." Click here to find out more!
The bookstore owners said they received thousands of e-mails and phone calls with suggestions what to do with the books. But few people offered to take them.
"With all of the public outcry, I thought more people would step up to give these books a home," said Wayne. "Maybe people thought being outraged would accomplish something."
"We're a small used bookstore," noted Wayne, "most of the ideas we've received would cost us thousands of dollars and dozens of hours, or would have us provide our inventory to organizations that compete directly with used bookstores."
” Ive heard of burning books to prevent people from reading them, but burning books because people wont read them-well, thats a new one “
I suppose it’s better than burning people because they won’t read your book.
Don’t anybody give that idea to the libs, OK?
Have a lot of respect and reverance for Europe, have you?
D*mn that’s funny!
No one needs liberals but we don't go around burning them - yet.
Not one book in a hundred is worth the time to read, but likely the burnt books included not one volume from Don Quixote’s library.
OMG! I feel all crispy, already! LOL!
Booksellers remove the front covers and return them to the publisher to get a full refund of the price they paid for them, listing them as unsold and destroyed. It's cheaper than paying the full cost of returning the much heavier whole book. They are supposed to have been destroyed in the agreement the bookseller made with the publisher for disposal of unsold inventory.
Stopped in Barnes and Noble today to pick up a couple books for daughter's English class. They have a whole wall of an odd product they call "graphic novels." Turns out, they are comic books bound like pulp paperbacks. Large pictures and childish dialog...If I was reduced to selling this kind of drivel I'd burn it too.
Trust me, that would be the least of crimes I witnessed at JFK Airport. Daily.
I recently bought text books for a student at the local community college.
Human Anatomy, New 166.77 Used 145.12.
Human Physiology, New 167.35 Used 144.20.
The class had limited number of students and the professor demanded current edition 2007 books.
The cost of education especially book prices have absolutely gone over the top.
I recently bought text books for a student at the local community college.
Human Anatomy, New 166.77 Used 145.12.
Human Physiology, New 167.35 Used 144.20.
The class had limited number of students and the professor demanded current edition 2007 books.
The cost of education especially book prices have absolutely gone over the top.
Check out the guy’s website. He sells very little I would be interested in.
..
I'm doing my part:
Never thought of using books to shore up my roof. Thanks.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.