April 29, 2024
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More than 95,000 books find new home at 3-day event

The Will County Land Use Department’s Resource Recovery and Energy Division sponsored annual book reuse/recycle event

By Denise M. Baran-Unland

People peruse the books at the Pilcher Park Nature Center. Because of the pandemic, participants wore masks and socially distanced.  Books were also found in a tent, along a path and on the nature center’s back porch. (Photo provided)

More than 95,000 books found new readers eager to take them home at the annual Book Reuse/Recycling Event at Pilcher Park June 4 through June 6.

The Will County Land Use Department’s Resource Recovery and Energy Division sponsored the event.

Libraries and schools donated 1,031 boxes of books. Each box held approximately 75 books so they donated about 77,325 books, more than all the books available in 2019, which was 75,000, Tim Anderson, event coordinator, said in a news release from Will County.

In addition, residents donated estimated 50,000, which meant attendees could choose among 127,325 books.

The books were arranged inside the Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet, on the nature center’s back porch, under a tent in the back yard and along a path, the news release said.

The books at the annual Book Reuse/Recycling Event at Pilcher Park June 4 through June 6 were arranged inside the nature center, on the nature center’s back porch, under a tent in the back yard and along a path. (Photo provided)

“We expected a lot of books since last year’s event was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Anderson said in the release.

About 31,000 books remained after the three-day event; these will be recycled. The 2022 free event is scheduled for June 3 to June 5.

Still have books to donate and recycle for someone else to read?

The Will County Land Use Department’s Resource Recovery and Energy Division has a list of places that may accept them. Find those places at bit.ly/3wPmtEb.

The books at the annual Book Reuse/Recycling Event at Pilcher Park June 4 through June 6 were arranged inside the nature center, on the nature center’s back porch, under a tent in the back yard and along a path. (Photo provided)