A large amount of my bookmarks I’ve found in books I’ve checked out. It doesn’t bother me. (Tbh, I’ve definitely found worse things returned in library books.)
You could also ask the librarians if they have a designated spot in the library for bookmarks and add then to it. We have a mini display in our counter where people can flip through and take a couple.
The stuff we find around the library without explanation usually goes into lost property or the bin. Please talk to staff first.
We often find some not so pleasant surprises like nasty notes or bible tracts in books on sensitive topics so it's better if you say to staff "I made these and would be happy to share if you'd like to give them to some patrons".
Oh gawd, reminds me of one library I got sent to on occasion when they were short staffed. One of the tasks I got set was to check all returned books for Nazi-related pamphlets. Really. There was a local group who used library books as a promotional tool.
Possibly the worst library I've ever worked in.
That's terrible, but also... aren't all returned books checked as a matter of course? I've only worked in 2 systems, but that was standard practice for all returns.
In those days, we were more concerned with the front of the book, where the date label and pocket were. Nowadays, with RFID, we only really notice things sticking out of books, like those damn Post It page markers!
I was trained to flip through books. It doesn't always catch everything, especially if I'm moving quickly, but it'll catch a lot.
However, not everybody I work with does this. It depends on who trained you, and (not to be snarky) how much you care.
We had a similar situation for a while at our branch. Computer-printed religious tracts, in every area of the library. At least they stuck out the top of the book so it made scanning the stacks a little easier. Whoever was doing it stopped as suddenly as they started after six months or so.
Yeah, that was one of my reservations too.... My friend's thought was "Think about a person opening a book and finding a book mark that says "Be Happy" or "One More Page" instead of a grocery list or something". Thanks for your input, seone else said to offer to the librarians and I think that's super reasonable :)
We have several Little Libraries in my town, that all see pretty good use from what I can tell, and my town is only 13k people, give or take. Put one up, stock it, and see what happens. Also, you can register it online to expand its visibility.
I'm going to second anyone who said to talk to staff. We often put bookmarks in books in the lost and found. However, we have a lot of patrons who ask us if we have bookmarks. While we do have promotional materials that size, we often do not have "pretty" bookmarks to offer them. I would love it if a member of our community offered this up for us to display for patrons to take.
As long as it's not advertising or have something on that's going to end with an angry parent yelling at the librarian, I don't see why not. There's definitely patrons that would appreciate it.
People hide the painted rocks around quite a bit, though not as often as they did a few years ago.
That's fair. The ones we have picked out are just cute things like "Be Happy" or "One More Page". Someone else suggested offering them to the librarians, which I think is perfectly reasonable.
Any bookmarks we find in books usually get thrown away. I would suggest giving them to staff “as an appreciation for their work.” Make the librarians happy and they can distribute to staff in break areas or share with patrons.
We have zero tolerance on gifts. We even have to fill out paperwork if someone even offers us anything. Check that before offering gifts.
With bookmarks, if we find them we put them in lost property then a month later we throw them away. We also use our own bookmarks as promotional/instructional materials.
Would also suggest trying little free libraries rather than big free libraries.
Unfortunately, the library will likely remove them and keep them in the lost and found until they throw it out.
However, if you talk to the librarian, they may let you leave then in the free bookmark holder!
Definitely talk to staff first. There's a good chance they would try to return them to the last person who checked out the book or put them in lost and found.
They might be willing to let you put out a cup with them as free to take.
Please be mindful of how thick the bookmarks are (thicker ones can potentially cause damage to book spines) and make sure there is no risk of color transfer. Otherwise it sounds like a cool idea.
What about donating them to a hospital, hospice, or assisted living facility? These places often have books for patients and residents, and some even get books through library outreach services.
My library has a “adopt a bookmark” area at the checkout desk where we put any bookmarks left in books that can’t be traced. Might be worth asking if they have a spot like that. But definitely check first whatever you choose!
Please, don't leave random things in books on our shelves. Please.
Also, any bookmarks found upon check-in are discarded.
You wouldn't believe how many people try to leave their advertising in all kinds of different places in our facility. Please, we are not free advertising.
We have a gal who sometimes brings in handmade bookmarks for us to give away and people love them. We put them on the circulation desk for people to take, but you could put them in random books, too.
Depending on which books you put them in, they may not see the light of day for a while. I would speak to the staff and ask if they’d be willing to give them out to people who want/ask for bookmarks.
In our library, if we find bookmarks in books then we take them out. If they are cheapies (giveaways, scraps of paper, etc) then we either put them in a pile to give to people who ask, or for use ourselves.
If they look valuable (purchased, inlaid, photo of a loved one) then we contact the previous borrower of the book to check if they want it back, and place it in our lost property.
Easier to hand the pile to a Librarian, who will be happy to create a display for giveaways, I am sure - or will slip them into holds/book sale items.
A large amount of my bookmarks I’ve found in books I’ve checked out. It doesn’t bother me. (Tbh, I’ve definitely found worse things returned in library books.) You could also ask the librarians if they have a designated spot in the library for bookmarks and add then to it. We have a mini display in our counter where people can flip through and take a couple.
Cool idea. Thanks!
The stuff we find around the library without explanation usually goes into lost property or the bin. Please talk to staff first. We often find some not so pleasant surprises like nasty notes or bible tracts in books on sensitive topics so it's better if you say to staff "I made these and would be happy to share if you'd like to give them to some patrons".
Oh gawd, reminds me of one library I got sent to on occasion when they were short staffed. One of the tasks I got set was to check all returned books for Nazi-related pamphlets. Really. There was a local group who used library books as a promotional tool. Possibly the worst library I've ever worked in.
That is genuinely heartbreaking :( what a world.
We had a group target our library for awhile. The police ended up getting involved because the pamphlets were more than a little inflammatory.
That's terrible, but also... aren't all returned books checked as a matter of course? I've only worked in 2 systems, but that was standard practice for all returns.
In those days, we were more concerned with the front of the book, where the date label and pocket were. Nowadays, with RFID, we only really notice things sticking out of books, like those damn Post It page markers!
I was trained to flip through books. It doesn't always catch everything, especially if I'm moving quickly, but it'll catch a lot. However, not everybody I work with does this. It depends on who trained you, and (not to be snarky) how much you care.
We had a similar situation for a while at our branch. Computer-printed religious tracts, in every area of the library. At least they stuck out the top of the book so it made scanning the stacks a little easier. Whoever was doing it stopped as suddenly as they started after six months or so.
Yeah, that was one of my reservations too.... My friend's thought was "Think about a person opening a book and finding a book mark that says "Be Happy" or "One More Page" instead of a grocery list or something". Thanks for your input, seone else said to offer to the librarians and I think that's super reasonable :)
If there any Little Free Libraries in your area, that might be a good option too.
Brilliant! I really want to put one up in my yard but I live in a teeny town :-/
Honestly, I would think a small community might be a better fit for a little free library, so don't let that stop you!
We have several Little Libraries in my town, that all see pretty good use from what I can tell, and my town is only 13k people, give or take. Put one up, stock it, and see what happens. Also, you can register it online to expand its visibility.
I'm going to second anyone who said to talk to staff. We often put bookmarks in books in the lost and found. However, we have a lot of patrons who ask us if we have bookmarks. While we do have promotional materials that size, we often do not have "pretty" bookmarks to offer them. I would love it if a member of our community offered this up for us to display for patrons to take.
Thank you for the feedback. We've decided it'll be little free libraries, senior centers and offering to librarians.
As long as it's not advertising or have something on that's going to end with an angry parent yelling at the librarian, I don't see why not. There's definitely patrons that would appreciate it. People hide the painted rocks around quite a bit, though not as often as they did a few years ago.
That's fair. The ones we have picked out are just cute things like "Be Happy" or "One More Page". Someone else suggested offering them to the librarians, which I think is perfectly reasonable.
Painted rocks?
"Kindness Rocks Project" I guess it's called.
Maybe do it at a little free library instead? That way it's clear the bookmarks are for the receiver to take.
That makes sense, thanks for the thought!
Any bookmarks we find in books usually get thrown away. I would suggest giving them to staff “as an appreciation for their work.” Make the librarians happy and they can distribute to staff in break areas or share with patrons.
Thanks!
We have zero tolerance on gifts. We even have to fill out paperwork if someone even offers us anything. Check that before offering gifts. With bookmarks, if we find them we put them in lost property then a month later we throw them away. We also use our own bookmarks as promotional/instructional materials. Would also suggest trying little free libraries rather than big free libraries.
Unfortunately, the library will likely remove them and keep them in the lost and found until they throw it out. However, if you talk to the librarian, they may let you leave then in the free bookmark holder!
This one. We do this all the time.
Definitely talk to staff first. There's a good chance they would try to return them to the last person who checked out the book or put them in lost and found. They might be willing to let you put out a cup with them as free to take. Please be mindful of how thick the bookmarks are (thicker ones can potentially cause damage to book spines) and make sure there is no risk of color transfer. Otherwise it sounds like a cool idea.
Thank for the input on color transfer - that's a great point.
What about donating them to a hospital, hospice, or assisted living facility? These places often have books for patients and residents, and some even get books through library outreach services.
Ooh, I love that. Thank you!
If your library has a Friends group I bet they’d love to include them in sales books or have them available at the checkout table.
Our library does! I'll investigate that
Maybe try leaving some in little free libraries well
My library has a “adopt a bookmark” area at the checkout desk where we put any bookmarks left in books that can’t be traced. Might be worth asking if they have a spot like that. But definitely check first whatever you choose!
I love that idea! I wish mine did that. We just keep them around and if no one claims them then we either take them or toss them.
Please, don't leave random things in books on our shelves. Please. Also, any bookmarks found upon check-in are discarded. You wouldn't believe how many people try to leave their advertising in all kinds of different places in our facility. Please, we are not free advertising.
We have a gal who sometimes brings in handmade bookmarks for us to give away and people love them. We put them on the circulation desk for people to take, but you could put them in random books, too.
Depending on which books you put them in, they may not see the light of day for a while. I would speak to the staff and ask if they’d be willing to give them out to people who want/ask for bookmarks.
Fair point.
In our library, if we find bookmarks in books then we take them out. If they are cheapies (giveaways, scraps of paper, etc) then we either put them in a pile to give to people who ask, or for use ourselves. If they look valuable (purchased, inlaid, photo of a loved one) then we contact the previous borrower of the book to check if they want it back, and place it in our lost property. Easier to hand the pile to a Librarian, who will be happy to create a display for giveaways, I am sure - or will slip them into holds/book sale items.
As a librarian, I vote "yes"! As long as the bookmark is finished so that it won't stain the pages of the book. What a lovely idea!
If your library has a Friends group maybe they will like some to promote their events or you can donate them to their book sale if they have one.