Shipboard Library Donations

[CapCrunch]

This is kind of an unusual question (I think, maybe not): would the ship accept donations to the library? I'm not talking about a box of books I want to unload obviously, but just 2 or 3 new paperbacks (one or two possibly foreign language) that would probably be pretty popular books. I just happen to have some extra copies, and it'd be nice to share them, IF they don't mind or get way too many donations. If so, just bring them to the library, or drop them off at the reception desk?

[Shorex]

Most ship libraries will have a shelf for a book exchange. Guests can drop off their finished books and pick up something else - without the formality of checking out the ship books.

[sail7seas]

HAL has good libraries on their ships.

They usually have a 'leave one, take one' shelf where I always leave behind any books I have finished while on the ship.

[Langley Cruisers]

...If so, just bring them to the library, or drop them off at the reception desk?

 

You can drop them at the library. If you leave them at Guest Services, then someone has to physically walk them to the library and who knows how that might go. Seriously - not being facetious, but this is certainly something you can do yourself. I have left magazines there for other passengers; they are appreciated. :)

[NMLady]

This is kind of an unusual question (I think, maybe not): would the ship accept donations to the library? I'm not talking about a box of books I want to unload obviously, but just 2 or 3 new paperbacks (one or two possibly foreign language) that would probably be pretty popular books. I just happen to have some extra copies, and it'd be nice to share them, IF they don't mind or get way too many donations. If so, just bring them to the library, or drop them off at the reception desk?

 

Every cruise ship I have been on has an exchange shelf in the library, usually paperbacks, where you can exchange one of your books for a book from that shelf. That would be the best place to leave your donations.

[LHT28]

I agree most ships you can just leave your books in the library

I have gotten some good reading from past cruisers donations

[dorisis]

I do it all the time. If there is an exchange shelf, put them there, otherwise just leave them at the desk or in the book drop.

 

Libraries are going out of fashion now with all the E-books, but some of us still like the "real" thing.

Edited October 20, 2015 by dorisis

[OctoberKat]

When we cruised on Regent last January, I slipped a dozen books into the onboard library. Can't imagine any ship would object and, if so, what could they do?!

[Bonnie J.]

On Costa they have a big box in the library for your read paperback books. You put your in and find another you'd like and just take it. Once on my way there with 3 paperbacks a lady in the elevator asked me about the books and took all 3!

But I haven't seen anything like this on Carnival. I hate it when all the bookshelves have locks on them -even when the librarian is there!

[CapCrunch]

I do it all the time. If there is an exchange shelf, put them there, otherwise just leave them at the desk or in the book drop.

 

Libraries are going out of fashion now with all the E-books, but some of us still like the "real" thing.

 

Me too - and if you run out, it's probably expensive to download ebooks at sea.

[Flatbush Flyer]

When we cruised on Regent last January, I slipped a dozen books into the onboard library. Can't imagine any ship would object and, if so, what could they do?!

 

 

The last thing any "librarian" wants is someone "slipping" books into their collection. Offering them to whoever maintains the collection is a different story.

[Keith1010]

Yes, the ship will accept donations and that is very nice of you.

 

Keith

[GUT2407]

Yep.

[sail7seas]

On Costa they have a big box in the library for your read paperback books. You put your in and find another you'd like and just take it. Once on my way there with 3 paperbacks a lady in the elevator asked me about the books and took all 3!

But I haven't seen anything like this on Carnival. I hate it when all the bookshelves have locks on them -even when the librarian is there!

 

If any donated books are not welcomed, they can be donated elsewhere or if not in suitable condition, discarded.

 

[nobog]

I bring a few - and leave a few - especially on Celebrity Solstice - worst library at sea - so anything will help...

 

JK

[Bookish Angel]

http://littlefreelibrary.org

 

Little Free Library is an international book-sharing, community building and literacy project. I have dropped off and picked up many good books this way.

[CapCrunch]

http://littlefreelibrary.org

 

Little Free Library is an international book-sharing, community building and literacy project. I have dropped off and picked up many good books this way.

 

Yeah, I was in Wisconsin recently and we saw (and used) those little birdhouse - libraries all over. A very neat idea!

Edited October 22, 2015 by CapCrunch

[sail7seas]

Yeah, I was in Wisconsin recently and we saw (and used) those little birdhouse - libraries all over. A very neat idea!

 

I've never seen or heard of this. I wonder if there are any in Massachusetts? I'd happily donate books there.

[travelnap]

I bring a few - and leave a few - especially on Celebrity Solstice - worst library at sea - so anything will help...

 

JK

 

I chuckled a little when I read your post. Although I have not sailed on the Solstice I was on the Connie this spring, and I would agree that Celebrity did not have much of a library at all. I read a lot when I am on a cruise, and when I finish a book I leave it in the ship's library for others to enjoy. If it is a hardcover, I will give it to the librarian so they can add it to their collection if they wish. Usually I take paperbacks so I just leave them in the swap a book area that most ship libraries have. I was on a short five day cruise so I only brought 6 or 7 books with me and I left them all in the library. Celebrity did not have a swap a book area, so I just left them on one of the empty shelves in the library, and they all were gone by the end of the cruise, so people will use the books that we leave for others.

 

I know that many enjoy using the E-readers but I am more old school and just like the feel of a real book.

[OctoberKat]

Disregard

Edited October 23, 2015 by OctoberKat

[OctoberKat]

http://littlefreelibrary.org

 

Little Free Library is an international book-sharing, community building and literacy project. I have dropped off and picked up many good books this way.

 

Click on the link below for a photo of my curbside Little Free Library:

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206715282019904&set=a.10204282235395259.1073741827.1209731742&type=3&makeprofile=1&profile_id=1209731742&pp_source=photo_view

[newbiecruiser09]

The last thing any "librarian" wants is someone "slipping" books into their collection. Offering them to whoever maintains the collection is a different story.

 

Relax a bit please. I agree with you when talking about a true "library" but my guess is that there is not a ship afloat that has a "librarian" on board. No one cataloging, checking books in/out, and maintaining the collection. All "libraries" I've seen on ships or in hotels are more of a "book nook" where the venue has placed some books but more likely, guests have left items and added to the "collection". Have never seen anything to discourage donations-and actually more often have seen info about sharing donations.

[NMLady]

Relax a bit please. I agree with you when talking about a true "library" but my guess is that there is not a ship afloat that has a "librarian" on board. No one cataloging, checking books in/out, and maintaining the collection. All "libraries" I've seen on ships or in hotels are more of a "book nook" where the venue has placed some books but more likely, guests have left items and added to the "collection". Have never seen anything to discourage donations-and actually more often have seen info about sharing donations.

 

Actually. Many ships have an assigned librarian. Although not there all day, the hours are usually posted.

I spend a lot of time in ship libraries and have often seen a libriarian checking in books, reshelving returned books and misshelved books. This has been true on HAL, on Oceania, and on NCL.

I have had ship librarians answer questions for me and help me find a book.

Edited October 23, 2015 by NMLady

[OctoberKat]

Actually. Many ships have an assigned librarian. Although not there all day, the hours are usually posted. I spend a lot of time in ship libraries and have often seen a libriarian checking in books, re-shelving returned books and misshelved books. This has been true on HAL, on Oceania, and on NCL.

I have had ship librarians answer questions for me and help me find a book.

 

OK, then, I want that job!

 

I have experienced only two shipboard libraries: one on the long-defunct Panama Line and the other aboard Regent's Navigator. Neither staffed librarians, both are smaller ships passenger-wise. The Navigator's library is combined with the computer/internet access area and I expect that is a common approach on many vessels. Navigator does staff an IT (computer / internet / mobility) specialist to assist with information technology issues which I expect are legion. In this case he (which he was) may shelve books and be responsible for general tidiness but he was not a librarian.

 

I expect it would be unusual for most passenger ships to maintain serious collections of even minimal scope. The norm would be routine popular fiction and of-the-moment tomes with a sprinkling of current light-history, non-fiction titles and some biographies and memoirs. Oh, and some Hollywood books. Large ships may staff a librarian position or detail help with some degree of library background. Librarians typically have both an undergratuate and master's degrees and have a great deal of expertise in assorted areas.

 

My expectation is collection development and ordering are fulfilled centrally with some variation as to itinerary and much emphasis on fiction, picture/coffee table books, travel and modest non-fiction. It would make sense that Disney and other mass-market large ships have a selection of children's literature which was lacking aboard Navigator. Collections naturally would be selected for what is a leisure-traveling sudience thereby limiting many sorts of topics routinely chosen for, say, a modest public library.

 

Another possibility is professional librarians may be "hired" as are lecturers and other professional with modest recompense in addition to room, board and other considerations including free cruising and exotic of not-so-exotic itineraries. Even so, most acquisitions and even cataloging would occur centrally with the ability to process additions on board in the case of donations. The truth is most library processes long have been centralized (economies of scale) thus much of the work the public sees in front-of-house (barring reference and training) is performed by paraprofessionals and clerks.

 

I may be wrong in any or all of my assertions and am confident I soon will learn of most exceptions because in real life, even on the seas (low or high), exceptions often prove the (general) rule.

 

Meanwhile, I look forward eagerly to leaning about the libraries aboard Silversea, which we sail in Nov/Dec, and Seabourn which will host us in March/April and again in June/July.

 

Finally, I adore this thread (thank you, OP) and am enjoying all the posts. So gratified by all the book lovers here. You are my people!

 

With good cheer,

Kat

BA, University of New Orleans

MLIS, Pratt Institute, NYC

35 years in the trenches

Edited October 23, 2015 by OctoberKat

[kazu]

OK, then, I want that job!

 

I have experienced only two shipboard libraries: one on the long-defunct Panama Line and the other aboard Regent's Navigator. Neither staffed librarians, both are smaller ships passenger-wise. The Navigator's library is combined with the computer/internet access area and I expect thst is a common approach on many vessels. Navigator does staff an IT (computer / internet / mobility) specialist to assist with information technology issues which I expect are legion. In this case he (which he was) may shelve books and be responsible for general tidiness but he was not a librarian.

 

I expect it would be unusual for most passenger ships to maintain serious collections of even minimal scope. The norm would be routine popular fiction and of-the-moment tomes with a sprinkling of current light-history, non-fiction titles and some biographies and memoirs. Oh, and some Hollywood books. Large ships may staff a librarian position or detail help with some degree of library background. Librarians typically have both an undergratuate and master's degrees and have a great deal of expertise in assorted areas.

 

My expectation is collection development and ordering are fulfilled centrally with some variation as to itinerary and much emphasis on fiction, picture/coffee table books, travel and modest non-fiction. It would make sense that Disney and other mass-market large ships have a selection of children's literature which was lacking aboard Navigator. Collections naturally would be selected for what is a leisure-traveling sudience thereby limiting many sorts of topics routinely chosen for, say, a modest public library.

 

Another possibility is professional librarians may be "hired" as are lecturers and other professional with modest recompense in addition to room, board and other considerations including free cruising and exotic of not-so-exotic itineraries. Even so, most acquisitions and even cataloging would occur centrally with the ability to process additions on board in the case of donations. The truth is most library processes long have been centralized (economies of scale) thus much of the work the public sees in front-of-house (barring reference and training) is performed by paraprofessionals and clerks.

 

I may be wrong in any or all of my assertions and am confident I soon will learn of most exceptions because in real life, even on the seas (low or high), exceptions often prove the (general) rule.

 

Meanwhile, I look forward eagerly to leaning about the libraries aboard Silversea, which we sail in Nov/Dec, and Seabourn which will host us in March/April and again in June/July.

 

Finally, I adore this thread (thank you, OP) and am enjoying all the posts. So gratified by all the book lovers here. You are my people!

 

With good cheer,

Kat

BA, University of New Orleans

MLIS, Pratt Institute, NYC

35 years in the trenches

 

You really need to check out some other ships' libraries. Many of Holland America's are quite extensive - the Prinsendam probably has the best.

 

And yes, they accept donations and some are even signed or marked who they are donated by.

 

Here you will find Travel, Science, Biography, Non Fiction, Fiction, etc. There are 1,000's of books and in fact on that ship, the library is really two rooms - that many books. It's pretty hard NOT to find something worth reading there if you are so inclined.

 

There is even a reference section with tons of travel info, etc and of course, like any reference section, the books may not leave the library.

 

How many credentials the librarian has I don't know, but there is no question the ones I have experienced have expertise in libraries and not the internet (which is what they also do).

Edited October 23, 2015 by kazu