Turkish Garbage Collectors Open Library Full of Discarded Books
Turkish garbage collectors in the country’s capital city of Ankara have opened a public library that is full of books that were originally destined to be put into landfill. The workers began collecting discarded books and opened the new library in the Çankaya district of Ankara. News of the library has spread and now people have begun donating books directly to the library, rather than throwing them away.
As CNN reports, the library was originally created for the use of the employees friends and family but, as it grew in size, the library was officially opened to the public in September of last year. “We started to discuss the idea of creating a library from these books. And when everyone supported it, this project happened,” said Çankaya Mayor Alper Tasdelen, whose local government spearheaded the opening of the library.
The library now has over 6,000 fiction and non-fiction books and includes a children’s section, an area dedicated to scientific research books, and a number of English and French language books for those who are bilingual. The library building itself used to be a brick factory and is located at the sanitation department HQ. The building featured long corridors and an aged brick facade and transformed perfectly into a library.
Books can be withdrawn for two weeks at a time, with an extension available if required. The library’s collection has now become so vast that it loans many of the books to schools, educational programs, and even prisons.“Village schoolteachers from all over Turkey are requesting books,” Tasdelen said. The library has also created new job opportunities as it requires full time staff to run and support it.
The library has proven to be a huge hit with the community. Children of the employees often enjoy reading there and local school children visit to study. Local cyclists who pedal through the nearby valley often take a break there and enjoy the lounge area and chess boards. “Before, I wished that I had a library in my house. Now we have a library here,” Serhat Baytemur, a 32-year-old garbage collector, told state media.
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“ours is a culture and a time immensely rich in trash as it is in treasures.”
― ray bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing
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credits: kerrytown bookfest, forreadingaddicts.co.uk,cnn
Wonderful story.
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it is, and it just keeps growing –
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I love this story, Beth. What a wonderful idea.
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i think so too, norah. every city could do this and people would have access to books –
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It would be wonderful. At the moment, I am going through some of my “stuff” and have books and games I’d love to donate somewhere. They are all in great condition, but everyone seems to want money, not donations. I’ve been looking for a while. I just need to keep looking until I find somewhere. 🙂
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maybe a hospital pediatric ward, clinic, shelter, underserved school?
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Thanks for the suggestions, Beth – still looking. 🙂
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There is adventure everywhere, but sometimes it’s easier to simply read a book.
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yes, and sometimes the adventure can be found within the books –
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This is outstanding!!
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I think so, too-
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Great story, I hate to see books being thrown away!
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i do too, andrew. i always donate mine, pass them on to someone i know, or leave them in public places, like on a park bench on a nice summer day –
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I think that this is a great way of recycling books. Thy should never be thrown away – there is always someone to read them.
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you are so right, colline –
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That is awesome!!!
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i think so too –
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Oh my!!
>
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oh, yes –
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I wish we could get them the books left over from our book sale, this sister library, Beth …
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i know….
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Brilliant!
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it is!
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Fantastic!
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it so is!
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Pingback: From: I didn’t have my glasses on treasure trove. — I didn’t have my glasses on…. | Rethinking Life
Nice story
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I loved it –
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❤
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Turning “trash” into treasure is one of the greatest opportunities and most important challenges of the future. Thank you for the reminder, Beth.
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Absolutely right,russ –
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Excellent!
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Isn’t it wonderful?
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It’s a wonderful story in the midst of so many awful ones; uplifting!
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Absolutely refreshing
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WOW-WOW! This is really one of the most radical (in the realm of wonderful) things I have ever heard of! One could say this is a picture of redemptive happenings.
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Yes,yes to all of that)
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My faith in humanity is restored. Thank you, Beth!
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this is the kind of human story that does that –
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Great idea!
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brilliant –
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reposted on my google + account loved the story so much wanted to share over there and I will reposted over here too on red sox lady 35 what a wonderful deal no book should be thrown away awesome deal. Thanks Beth!!!!!!
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thanks, kat – i love their idea
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it is a great way to get books out there to people who can’t afford to buy and can’t always get to the library
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Reblogged this on redsoxlady35 and commented:
ksbeth latest blog what an awesome story and a cool idea
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))
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This is beautiful.
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Such a beautiful project
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I love this story! Good news.
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It is!
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😀
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Thanks for reporting this. Trove is an appropriate name because it comes from the Old French word for ‘found.’
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A good fit then –
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Great story, Beth, thank you.
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My pleasure
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I really enjoyed this story! Good to hear about good things happening for a change! 👍
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It really is-
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😊
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bravo…let’s meet there, beth?
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Let’s!
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This is absolutely the Best Recycling Story ever!
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I thought it was brilliant
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Exceptionally cool.
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i think so, too –
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Fantastic idea!! I love hearing this!
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i did too –
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I love this for numerous reasons. But one of the main reasons is what if someone throws out a very rare and obscure book? What if there weren’t many copies of this book, and the other copies are forever lost or damaged? What if there is that one copy of a book that is one of the few left in existence? And what if it ends up in a library because someone decided to save it? This is one of the reasons that I hate books being tossed in the garbage.
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