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Destined for the Dumpster?Ann Beyer
With that in mind, we decided to advertise the shelving through one of the South Central Regional Library Council listserves. Shortly thereafter we received a phone call from the William B. Ogden Free Library, in Walton, New York. They had recently experienced extensive damage to their collection from the recent floods. Had we already given the shelving away? Could they have it?
Meanwhile, Sarah Thomas’s office received a phone call from someone who had also seen the listing and was equally interested in our shelves. Was the shelving still available? They, too, had experienced extensive damage from the recent flood. Could we possibly help them? The stories were strikingly similar! Continued conversation revealed the two separate requests were, in fact, coming from the same library! What a relief!
What an appreciative, enthusiastic, hard-working group they were! Aided by just an occasional sip of water from the near by fountain, they completed the task by 2 o’clock. But there was little time to rest. After a hurried picnic lunch under the shade of a tree on the Arts Quad, our fantastic foursome said their goodbyes. They had a ninety-minute drive ahead of them and needed to have the U-Haul unloaded before the early-evening rental deadline. But their spirits were a little lighter as they anticipated the fresh beginning these “new” shelves offered—shelving no longer destined for the dumpster. Read the shelf request letter. |
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Because of space reallocations, the Fine Arts Library recently found itself with a large quantity of unused shelving. No, it wasn’t the latest compact shelving, nor was it a newer version of the old stuff, the kind with attached sides. It was very basic and fairly simple to assemble and did not have an intended use anywhere in CUL. Regardless, it was perfectly functional. Maybe someone could use it. 
The dialogue began. Measurements were taken, photos were e-mailed, and transportation issues were discussed. The pieces were falling together, and it seemed to be a perfect match. Both parties were delighted.
July 18, 2006—the twelve-foot U-Haul pulled up to the Sibley Hall loading dock around 11:40 a.m. After introductions and a crash course on proper assemblage, two strong, energetic teenagers, as well as the library coordinator and the driver of the rental truck, began the lengthy ordeal of carrying the 100 shelves and their 200 side pieces, along with the posts and frames, bases, and nuts and bolts, down one flight of stairs and around the corner to the truck.