I had a huge picker-upper today in a form I hardly expected.
As I was walking back to the dorm after work, a friend stopped me to say he just dropped off a big package in the mailroom for me. He works in supply so I asked it it was our library supplies finally coming in.
"I don't know," he said, "but the box had your name on it. It was pretty big, too."
A big box with my name on it? Weird. I wasn't expecting anything to arrive. Time to investigate!
As soon as I stepped into the room I saw the box. The words "Simon and Schuster" rounded the bottom rim. How strange and unexpected - a package for me direct from a publisher. Then it struck me. I wrote a letter to Scribner last week describing out library and asking for donations. Scribner, I had forgotten, is a subsidiary of Simon and Schuster. I didn't even think I would get a reply, much less a box of books the next week.
"You won't be able to get the books until next week," said the mailroom lady. Killjoy, I'm thinking. "But we can open the box now so you can see what you got in." Woohoo!
My buddy, the mailroom clerk, opened the box and we saw hardbacks, paperbacks and a small not on a Simon and Schuster card saying "hope this helps. Enjoy!"
In my letter I said we would accept galley proofs or slightly damaged books, but, as my friend and I sat on the floor shuffling through the books, I saw that they were all final production copies. Most of them are fairly new releases, too. What a blessing!
I really hope to turn over most of this library's inventory and we are well on our way. Since I started asking for donations in February, we have added close to 850 books and this box of books only adds to the total. Our shelves are packed full, but we continue to replace the books no one checks out, dusty and yellowed. I believe education and reading can help guys stay out once they get out, and that better material gives more motivation and better options to the guys.
Thank you, Simon and Schuster and everyone else who has donated books!
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