# Librarian rejects books donated by First Lady **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 28, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548 "2017-09-28T22:02:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/41 "2017-09-29T14:16:34Z")
This could have been a stupid liberal idea thread post. Haven’t had many of those in a while. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/42 "2017-09-29T14:56:21Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > But still, when you’re given a gift, you don’t say this stuff out loud. You accept the gift graciously (unless it’s something really unacceptable, like a hagiography of Stonewall Jackson), and if you don’t want it, you quietly pass it on to someone who does. Ayup. That’s how I feel about this. Plus the stupidity of handing the Foxworld yet another club with which to beat the Evil Libtards. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/43 "2017-09-29T15:35:12Z")
The books were essentially an award for the school’s excellence. That’s why they didn’t go to some random struggling school. And, if they HAD gone to some random school it would be all “OMG Melania Trump thinks she can fix our failing schools with $15 in Dr. Seuss books!!!” But that wasn’t their purpose. The books were marked by the White House and intended to be an “Attaboy” that was perhaps something the school could share with the students instead of a worthless plaque or scrap of paper to hang on the wall. Saying that Melania Trump (or the administration) was “using” the school is just silly. The only reason anyone here even knows about it is because this librarian made a big stink. Dr. Seuss is still a classic that kids still love reading and parents have fun reading with their kids. The list of alternate titles the librarian suggests makes me wonder if she has any idea at all why we’re still reading his books a half-century later. I’m sure the other books have their own merits but I sincerely doubt that any budding reader ever delighted to “My mom was taken by the immigration police” at bedtime the way they do to _Fox in Socks_. Are kids not allowed to read for fun any more? Taking a gift that Melania Trump says was meaningful to her because she shared them with her son and then shitting all over it is just tactless and petty. I guess they can’t teach basic manners in librarian school. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/44 "2017-09-29T15:40:34Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > I bet this is a net positive for libraries, who will soon have a surplus of donated books. Do libraries even want donated books? I was under the impression that most donated books wind up in book sale bins. What they really want is cash to buy the books they actually wanted/needed instead of the stuff you had lying around the house. This doesn’t really apply to the Trump gift since, again, the purpose of it wasn’t really to shore up their library but rather to give an award the students could touch and enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/45 "2017-09-29T16:14:37Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Ayup. That’s how I feel about this. Plus the stupidity of handing the Foxworld yet another club with which to beat the Evil Libtards. Maybe the story angle will be “even most liberals agree that this librarian is a dipshit.” Yeah, probably not. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/46 "2017-09-29T16:20:49Z")
DT deserves every bit of disrespect, in any form it can be manifested. This librarian’s a hero. I think I’ll stand and put my hand on my heart the next time I hear the anthem. And I’ll honor her as I do it. Was it petty? Fuck yea it was. But these are difficult times. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/47 "2017-09-29T16:37:24Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Do libraries even want donated books? Depends on the library. I remember [this](https://throwingchanclas.com/2016/06/07/just-one-book/) [from](https://throwingchanclas.com/2016/06/15/just-one-book-updates-and-observations/) [last year](https://throwingchanclas.com/2016/06/29/just-one-big-thank-you/). ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/48 "2017-09-29T16:46:35Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Depends on the library. I remember [this](https://throwingchanclas.com/2016/06/07/just-one-book/) [from](https://throwingchanclas.com/2016/06/15/just-one-book-updates-and-observations/) [last year](https://throwingchanclas.com/2016/06/29/just-one-big-thank-you/). That’s cool and I’m glad it happened. My impression – and I’m open to being wrong – is that it’s more of an edge case and most libraries get donations that don’t suit their needs. So the donated books get sold for pennies on the dollar during library book sales with the proceeds going towards buying books that they DO need/want. Heck, even the site you linked says that they have an Amazon Wish List (and the later entries show piles of Amazon boxes) as opposed to random donations. All this is secondary to the actual thread topic, of course. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/49 "2017-09-29T17:10:41Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Do libraries even want donated books? I was under the impression that most donated books wind up in book sale bins. Former librarian here (now retired). My perspective: An elementary school library probably has all the Dr. Seuss books already. However, the existing copies are probably grubby and worn from constant handling by young kids, who aren’t usually big on hygiene. I would have kept the new copies from Melania, and maybe tossed the old ones if they’re really gross and falling apart. IMHO, the librarian was looking to make a political statement. I find this a little odd. Most librarians are politically liberal, but generally avoid getting into politics on the job (other than resisting pressure to ban particular books). Most books donated to libraries are crap (no, we do not need your old copy of _Windows 95 for Dummies_), but if it was appropriate for the collection and in good condition, I wouldn’t care who donated it. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/50 "2017-09-29T20:01:44Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Purely asshole move on the librarian’s part. There’s no other way to describe it. … I agree. Dogs and cats, living together… ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/51 "2017-09-29T20:05:28Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > I loathe Dr. Seuss… _snipped_ I knew there was something wrong with you…😛 ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/52 "2017-09-29T20:16:48Z")
As a librarian, I tend to see donations like this from someone as wealthy as the Mrs.Trump du jour as the equivalent of leaving quarter (as in $0.25) tip at a restaurant. It’s obviously just a publicity stunt and a cheap one at that. If she really wanted to do something to help that particular library, money would be better or if for some unfathomable reason she had to give those particular books to somebody, there are poor, urban and rural libraries that need them. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/53 "2017-09-29T21:56:37Z")
It wasn’t a donation, it was effectively an award and acknowledgement. They gave it to a top performing school in every state. Calling it a publicity stunt is sort of amusing since there’s 49 other schools no one can name who got the same thing and accepted it graciously; we only know about this one because of the librarian’s hissy fit. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/54 "2017-09-29T22:27:05Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > It wasn’t a donation, it was effectively an award and acknowledgement. They gave it to a top performing school in every state. Calling it a publicity stunt is sort of amusing since there’s 49 other schools no one can name who got the same thing and accepted it graciously; we only know about this one because of the librarian’s hissy fit. As an award it’s the equivalent of painting a used bottle cap and trying to pass it off to a wounded solider as the Purple Heart. if Mrs. Trump du jour can’t do things right, they should keep her out of the public eye. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/55 "2017-09-29T22:58:59Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > As an award it’s the equivalent of painting a used bottle cap and trying to pass it off to a wounded solider as the Purple Heart. No, not really even a little bit. The Purple Heart has established meaning. It was something nicer and with more thought than a sheet of paper suitable for framing. Acknowledge the school and give the children something from the White House that they can hold and interact with rather than something stuck on the wall. People just want to be all pissy because it has the Trump name attached to it. This is why we can’t have nice things. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/56 "2017-09-29T23:01:48Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > People just want to be all pissy because it has the Trump name attached to it. This is why we can’t have nice things. _Very few_ people just want to be all pissy because it has the Trump name attached to it. I mean, if _I_ think this kerfluffle’s beyond the pale, it can’t _possibly_ have mainstream liberal support. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/57 "2017-09-29T23:02:35Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > What an extremely ignorant librarian. … Why didn’t she say thank you for the books and find a school that does not have a 9,000-book library and pass them on? Too obvious??? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/58 "2017-09-29T23:14:27Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > _Very few_ people just want to be all pissy because it has the Trump name attached to it. True that. I’m lightened by the fact that 95% of people seem to think the librarian was off her rocker. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/59 "2017-09-30T00:21:13Z")
Really stupid things done by Republicans or conservatives that bring shame onto all of them in 2017: 76 Really stupid things done by liberals or democrats that bring shame onto all of them in 2017: 1 ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-rejects-books-donated-by-first-lady/797548/60 "2017-09-30T00:22:19Z")
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