In this household brimming with books, we’re continuing to take a year-long look at how books make their way into (and out of) this place. This report reflects the months of April and May, and brings us to almost the halfway point in the year.
At the end of April (National Poetry Month, by the way), the two columns on my home office whiteboard tallied up as follows:
Incoming: 13
- All incoming books were paper.
- 9 of the incoming books were poetry collections.
- 6 books were work-related.
- 1 book was purchased directly from a publisher at a book event.
- 7 received books were complimentary copies from publishers or authors.
Outgoing: 17
- 13 outgoing books were contributed to three local Little Free Library boxes.
- 3 books were given to friends.
- 1 book was returned to the library.
At the end of May, the two columns on my home office whiteboard tallied up as follows:
Incoming: 4
- 3 of the incoming books were purchased in bookstores (Book City and Ben McNally’s).
- 1 book was purchased online from Amazon.
Outgoing: 7
- 5 outgoing books were contributed to three local Little Free Library boxes.
- 2 books were given to friends
2014 to date: 51 books incoming, 71 books outgoing
So far this year, a total of 19 incoming books are read and 33 are unread, and a total of 46 outgoing books have been read … and 28 books that have lived in this house unread are now back out in the world, presumably to join a household where they will be read.
So far this year, 27 fiction, 11 non-fiction and 13 poetry books have arrived, and 37 fiction, 29 non-fiction and 8 poetry books have departed.
Our outgoing numbers continue to illustrate that we have an abiding affection for our local Little Free Library boxes.
A pile of books. Photograph: Lorna Roach (via The Guardian)
(http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2010/mar/19/how-not-to-title-a-novel)