Recognizing that books are “very meaningful” to people, volunteers and employees at the Whitefish Community Library searched long and hard to find new homes for books they didn’t need in the library’s collection.

Their list of options doesn’t include garbage cans, library board Vice Chairman Anne Moran said, but does include all sorts of other libraries and facilities around the Flathead Valley.

As library leaders began cataloging the many donated books after the city library opened last July, they discovered they had far too many copies of some books, Moran said.

“We wanted to find ways to redeploy these books in a way that’s meaningful to the community,” she said. “We all put our heads together to come up with a list of organizations that could use some augmentation of their collections.”

That list included small libraries, schools, food banks, the Whitefish Community Center, assisted and senior living sites, thrift shops, a low-income housing facility in Libby, the Flathead County jail, the Stumptown Historical Society and Samaritan House.

Moran said everyone involved in the discussions agreed donating unneeded books to someone else was “an important way for us to help pay back the community.”

Volunteers Kathy and Karl Borchers have logged many hours finding places they can donate the books to, she said. The Borchers sort the books and deliver them to their new owners.

The Borchers also are members of the Whitefish Library Association board.

If they’ve missed any organizations or facilities that would like to receive books, both Moran and Kathy Borcher urge those entities to call 862-9914 to arrange for a donation delivery.

“Books are a special gift,” Moran said, “and it’s good to have them where people can use them.”

The recipients have been thrilled with their books, Borchers said.

“Everyone who receives them has been delighted,” she said. “It’s been fun and interesting to deliver the books.”

The Whitefish library also accepts donations of magazines, which are offered free to whoever wants them.

“I’ve even put out old copies of National Geographic,” Borchers said, “and within a couple of hours, they’re gone.”

Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or sridenour@dailyinterlake.com.