TSS - The Dewey Tree

My favorite part of Christmas - hands down - is giving presents. I love the thrill of seeking out just the right gift - the fun of wrapping - the joy of seeing my loved one's face when they open that perfect present. I LOVE IT!!


I also love finding opportunities to give to people who need a little help. This year, my co-workers and I have decided to forgo the traditional Secret Santa in favor of adopting a family. I always participate in Toys for Tots, or The Mitten Tree, or one of the other avenues available at this time of year to do something for someone who has a need - because really, I am very blessed, and I know it.

So when I heard about the Dewey Tree, hosted by Lisa at Online Publicist, I thought it was the perfect idea for the book blogging community at this time of year.


"I thought about hosting a book swap, but I feel the problem is we're weighed down with too many books. Not having enough to read doesn't appear to be the problem! So in the spirit of the giving season, why don't we clean some shelves out instead? I know it's difficult to give up your books, but think about the people who really need them.

As I write this, I think of a favorite blogger who passed away this time last year. Her spirit lives on in the Dewey Read-a-Thon, Weekly Geeks, and The Bookworms Carnival. She loved reading. She loved books. She supported Banned Books Week and believed everyone had the right to reading material. In her honor, I'm calling this donation project The Dewey Tree. It's a little bit The Giving Tree, a little bit Dewey, a little bit charity. :-D

Here's what you do:
*Gather up the books you can live without. It can be 4 books, 10 books, or 20 books!
*Find a worthy group you would like to donate your overflow books to. It can be your local library, a literacy campaign (mine will go to the literacy center I volunteer for), or overseas. There's a great list of book donation sites here on the ALA. Find a charity that speaks to you!
*Then take a picture of your donation and email it to me (onlinepublicist [AT] gmail [DOT] com). It can be a pic of the mailing label on your package, one of your kids giving a box of books to a librarian, or you handing books over to your literacy center. Be creative and have fun!"


Seriously, what a GREAT idea! Here's the picture I'll be sending Lisa - my stack of books, with my friend Chilly the Snowman who helped me pick them out. =) I'll be donating to my local library, for the Friends of the Library book sale.


If you are interested, you just have to leave a comment on the Dewey Tree entry page telling Lisa what you donated, and where - pictures are fun, but she's not requiring them.



It's an easy way to do something good, in memory of one of our finest. Thanks, Lisa!