They may even have to redo the cover to make it out of library quality binding. My surprise came when I tried to donate some children's books. Same thing.
Sammy

Rosefolly, thank you for the compliment, but sadly I'm not as generous a philanthropist as you. :-) I wish I could afford to donate a copy to the library. But I'm just a poor library worker and Library Science grad student. I did however, put in a request that our library order the book. Chances are good that they will, since Louisiana is obviously a state for warm garden roses. Also, just yesterday, the other book that Jeri Jennings recently recommended came across the desk: Pink Ladies and Crimson Gents: Portraits and Legends of 50 Roses. Of course I had to check it out. It gives the personal histories of the people (real and/or fictitious) after whom many old roses are named. The photography is amazing, and even though the focus of the book is on the names, each entry ends with a short paragraph about the rose.

The librarian that worked with us last year would have ordered it in a heartbeat. She often asked me for suggestions when she ran out of ideas but still had money. But she left recently for a better position elsewhere :-(, and I don't know exactly who does the ordering at the moment.

Rosefolly is right, though. If anyone else wants to donate a copy of the teas book to a library--or any books for that matter--don't assume just because you donate it that it will be added to the library's collection. Most donations do end up going to the Friends of the Library sale. Our main library and branches also have used book racks on which we offer the slightly used books for sale. But that money goes back into the library, so you shouldn't feel like you didn't contribute if the books you gave don't end up on the circulating shelves.

It's good to know the proper way to do this. I brought in a very nice, new garden book to our local library and was immediately whisked off to the library bookstore. It seems like quite a process to want to give a book to a library.

Ingrid

Thank you for the information, I will be sending a letter to the Berkeley and Oakland Public libraries suggesting that the Tea book should be included in their catalog because it is the only re-blooming class of rose that is drought tolerant, as well as superlativly beautiful, long-lived and easy to care for, the later 2 points are especially important to disabled and elderly gardeners who cannot afford to replace plants often.

Luxrosa

A friend got a unique and classic, high-quality magnolia title from a local public library because they had sold it off due to nobody checking it out. (Dealers at the time were asking over 150 dollars for other copies. Unfortunately, this one had the name of the library stamped on it multiple times). So even when important books do make it into the collection they may not stay there. Rose books, of course, may be less likely to be ignored by public library patrons. There is a magnolia society populated by a network of enthusiasts, but any given area will not have nearly as many of these as rose hobbyists.

I was going to report the same thing but didn't want to be a buzz kill. I just bought all four volumes of Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy In the British Isles, a remarkable source of information about shrubby plants, their discovery and their history. They come to me used, as discarded library books. I have one volume of Bean already, and the bookplate reports that it was a gift to the library. Bah humbug.

If you want a book to be kept more or less indefinitely, a public library is not the place to contribute it. The mission of most public libraries is to provide a popular reading and information source. They must constantly be adding current material and discarding old. Public libraries vary in how willing they are to keep material that circulates only rarely, based in part on how much space they have.

Many university libraries and a very few public research libraries have an archival mission, that is, they collect and keep material. If your purpose is to make sure that the book will be kept for many years, this is the kind of library you want to own it.

But if you goal is to expose as many people as possible to a book, the best place is a well-used, well-run public library.

Rosefolly

Bean is an important reference set, so apparently that library wasn't using circulation as the only criterion for discarding titles - unless they were actually letting people check them out.

Here my county library system brings in copies of titles asked for from another branch, if it's not at the branch where the asking is being done. It appears they are maximizing space by operating the system as though it were all under one roof, to a certain extent.

The best way of getting books into the hands of those who want them is to sell it. That way it will go to someone who puts a value on it.
Recently my sister asked me to check if a bench we'd donated to the library in memory of our parents (who helped found it) was still there. It wasn't but had been junked when the library remodeled. Seems to me they could have moved the brass plate. My sister had been considering another donation but cancelled the idea. I've already told her to sell my rose books and NOT to give them to the library who will sell them for $1. each or something equally ridiculous.

To add to Rosefolly's suggestion, you might check to see if a local public garden has a library.

I work at a county park/garden which has a horticultural library of over 4,000 books, many of which have been donated. The library is open to the public, with borrowing privileges arranged through our Friends of the Parks organization.

Just check to see if the book(s) you have in mind, whether new or from your personal library, would be a welcome addition to their collection. Our librarian also keeps a "wish list" of books and other materials she'd like to add to the collection.

oldroser that is absolutely unconscionable that they got rid of your parents' bench and memory plate.

Oldroser, I agree. Total mismanagement on their part. And shortsighted, too, because they lost out on another donation. As you said, if for some reason they could not keep the bench, they could have consulted your family about moving the brass plate, perhaps to a 'Wall of Honor' dedicated to donors. No one will want to donate to an institution that treats their generosity so dismissively. A well run library would not have done that, and many libraries are very well run.

I'm so sorry your family had that experience.

What happened to you oldroser is completely unconcionable. It's really appalling that a gift, and one from a primary benefactor, could be so misused. I'm so sorry it happened.

Rosefolly, I'm sorry your noble quest to donate a worthy title has become so convoluted. As Bellegallica said - just because it may be accepted, doesn't mean you'll see it in the stacks. And I think Oldroser hit the mark by talking about selling books, whether a rose book collection or even a new rose book. I know it may bring up a sore spot, but getting these great books into the hands of people who really want to read them is the first priority, right? So is a library really the right place to do so?

I guess I'm being influenced by a review I read recently in the New York Times about Larry McMurtry's "Books: A Memoir" where he talks about his obsessive book collecting. My husband is one such kind of guy who relishes his "finds" on dusty shelves. I have some lovely old rose books due to his "hobby" and I secretly wait for the next one, even as I try to subdue his obsession.

Anyone who loves books will cherish this volume and perhaps keep a copy, or sell it, or share it with those who will appreciate it. The ability to see quality in a book is foresight into its intrinsic value, now, or in the future. Even though public libraries may not see it now, there are many more venues to appreciate its value.