Touching the Ancient One

Today I read an article on the Internet about a Kansas City bookstore owner who seems to be systematically burning his inventory of used books. Book burning is not a new thing, of course, but is most often the result of extreme religious or political fervor. In this case, it seems to be by one who presumably has great respect for the written word. The AP article by David Twiddy states that the burnings are to “draw attention in protest of what he [the bookstore owner]  sees as society's diminishing support for the printed word.” While I agree with the sentiment, I think the action is extreme.

I believe there are many places across the country that would very much like to receive those used books. Today, being Memorial Day, I’m thinking in particular of veteran’s hospitals and homes. I’ve donated several copies of Touching the Ancient One to those organizations and was rewarded by their gratitude. We may not be able to rescue those Kansas City books (although some are trying,) but we can perform a service to our elder service men and women by our own rescue of books and then seeing that they get into the right hands.

I’d bet there are several locations in your community to place your new or “rescued” books, but in case you’d rather just use the mail, here’s an address suggested by The Military Writers Society of America:

NW LA War Veterans Home
Attn: Tameka Dees, Library Director
3130 Arthur Ray Teague Pkwy
Bossier City, LA 71112

Rupert