Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) has published a news release urging all qualifying schools, libraries, and select nonprofit organizations located in her district and beyond to utilize the Library of Congress Surplus Books Program.
More than 34.5 million books and printed materials are housed on 838 miles of shelves at the Library of Congress, the world’s largest library.
The Library of Congress Surplus Books Program provides books and other publications which are not needed for their own uses or are out of current circulation as donations to eligible schools, libraries, and many other educational learning centers.
Organizations and institutions must identify as one of the following in order to participate in the program:
- Full-time, tax-supported or nonprofit educational institution: school, school system, college, university, museum, or public library.
- Agency of local, state, or federal government.
- Nonprofit institution or organization that has tax-exempt status under the provisions of section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (see 41 CFR 101-44.207 (a)(17)) and that operates a library and/or research center open to the public.
The Library of Congress notes that the “guiding principle” behind the Surplus Books Program is to simply build library collections – not to raise funds for institutions or organizations.
“It is my pleasure to help schools and libraries in East Tennessee acquire publications from the Library of Congress to fill their shelves,” Congresswoman Harshbarger said in a statement. “Education is so crucial to the success of our future generations. I am glad to have a hand in bringing home educational materials from our nation’s Capitol.”
The congresswoman asks those located in Tennessee’s 1st Congressional District who are interested in participating in the Surplus Books Program to contact her Washington, D.C. office or send an email that includes the qualifying organization’s name, contact information, and a description of current needs in the broadest terms possible.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Diana Harshbarger” by Diana for Congress.
Great idea. Please ensure if it has no educational value that it does not end up in our School libraries.