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Holiday Scams: Don't be Taken!
December 16, 2007
BiblioBuffet’s Book Donations’ page lists a number of organizations seeking contributions of books. Before they were added, I checked each of them out as far as I was able in order to determine their authenticity and honesty. Other than one organization, which has since been removed for questionable practices, I believe they do what they say they will do. But I am always open for more—and in fact just added BookEnds—so when information comes in about a new possibility my ears perk up.
Unfortunately, scams seem to have infiltrated this area too. A few days ago, I received an e-mail allegedly asking for book donations that is likely a twist on the old “My uncle died and left me 19 million dollars” con. Here it is (original grammar, spelling and punctuation intact):
I am pleased to introduce to you, our organization the Niger-Delta Book Trust founded by the People and the Student Members of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.The Niger Delta Book Trust is a Non-Governmental Educational Organization serving the People and Institutions of learning in the Niger Delta area of our Country from the Kindergarten to the Tertiary Institutions such as Universities and Colleges of Higher Learning.The Organization is incorporated under the Acts of Parliament No501 (3) (c) as a Charity Organization and Not-for profit. The People of Niger delta was highly maginalised by our Government and the Foreign Oil Companies Prospecting for crude Oil in the Region and hence the people were bacwardly raised without any formal Education.Our Organization, NDBT has taken the TASK of making sure that every Child from the niger Delta area should at least have a minimal Educational Qualification of west African School Certificate and a degree from any of the Universities! that is been Funded by our Organization.
In the light of this therefore, we write to seek your kind Donation of Library Books, Cell Phones, DVD/VCD Recorders, Computers, Audio Visual aids, Educational Materials and financial funding of the Shipment of the Donated Materials and Books to our Organization.On receipt of these Books and Materials, we shall promptly Distribute them to ALL our registered Institutions with our organization and these Books would be used by the Student of those colleges and universities while others would be Donated to Public Libraries in the Niger-Delta Regions and other States of the Federation where they are needed.
Its “scam factors” include bad English, use of the American IRS not-for profit tax code number (in Nigeria?), the plea for desirable electronic equipment, whining about “foreign oil companies,” no online information on the organization, and an overall vagueness in regards to referenced names of universities and schools. While I believe in supporting organizations seeking to spread books around to those who lack them, I urge any of you who share my sentiment to be careful. Scam spam like this needs to be tossed and blocked. If you have any books to donate, look close to home—or check our list where your book donations will help a genuinely needy reader. Please don’t allow your generosity to enrich scammers.
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Deep in the depths of a 1,000-page manuscript he is editing for his day job, Paul Clark has asked for a column’s reprieve from his BiblioBuffet deadline. It was granted, so this week we offer you one of his early submissions, a piece he published here before he actually joined as a columnist. Booklovers everywhere will recognize a kindred spirit in Paul’s essay in A Walk Through My Bookshelves.
Forty degrees sounds like the perfect holiday weather. But Amanda Joseph, living in Australia, means Centigrade—and that translates to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. They’re used to it, though, and more importantly, they view it as perfect weather for the barbecues, cold beer and good books that define a southern hemisphere Christmas. As a bookseller, Amanda has specific ideas for everyone’s gift list—and you can read about them in Rants & Raves From Down Under.
Kat Warren returns to Bibliopinions with another list of eminently readable books, “finest kind” books, as she is fond of saying. This time it’s the best damn little-known novels, books not much discussed, reviewed or promoted but well worth reading. Check her opinions out; they are always trustworthy.
Who hasn’t seen The Nutcracker at least once during this time of year? It’s a classic, and one that makes a good introduction to the fine art of ballet for children. Henry Carrigan looks at a new biography of the man who brought the ballet master responsible for The Nutcracker most of us know to America, Lincoln Kirstein. In fact, Kirstein was responsible for “introducing modernism to America and in ferreting out American modernists and their contributions to a growing arts movement.” Read about this important contribution to the arts movement in this week’s Readings.
Lisa Guidarini and I share a membership in the National Book Critics Circle, the organization of book reviewers. They recently released a survey in which we both participated and about we both are appalled at some of the results. In Reviews & Reflections this week, Lisa pulls no punches about her feelings on book reviewers as punching bags for writers.
A surprising winter wonderland, a reading feast and an unexpected encounter with a hotel library made Anne Michael’s recent business trip deliciously warm with memories. She shares those special days in this week’s Seasoned Lightly.
Christmas bookmarks light up Laine Farley’s column this week in On Marking Books. Articles on making bookmarks—both new and old, in print and online—are the focus of her attention. And what a good thing it is!
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Oh, and if you are looking for extra ideas for those Christmas stockings or as accompaniments to the book(s) you have no doubt purchased for your favorite booklovers, how about these:
Library card bookplates would be a delightful gift for the person who has fond memories the librarian stamping the Due Date cards of books checked out.
A book box that looks like six hardcover volumes but is actually a wooden storage place would look lovely on a desk or near a phone to hold those pencils and paper that are always needed. Near the front door, and it would be a great place for keys and other out-the-door miscellanea.
How about a library side table ? True, the price is high, but if you can afford it this is lovely! And if your glass of wine spills on it, well, it wouldn’t ruin the pages. This is not the company’s only bookish item; more reasonably priced ones can be found here.
If you’re needing more light to read by, how about these exquisite book lamps made from old books?
Quotation gifts for the writer, librarian, reader, booklover, illustration fan or word lover in your life include mugs, apparel and paper goods.
How does it stay up? The conceal bookshelf is actually suspended from your wall using the bottom book as support. Most of us need walls of shelves to hold our collections, but this could be enormous fun as a literary decorative item.
The publisher is famous for its unique cover design, and now in their honor—Penguin Books mugs. Despite the current dollar-to-pound ratio, the price for six is quite reasonable. And these are certainly lovely.
Not surprisingly, you’ll find a lot of bookish gifts at the Literacy Site store, among them jewelry, clothing, gifts for self and home. Among them are paper book earrings, raw silk journals, cruelty-free print leather bookmarks, and a clip-on LED hat light.
If you’re a fan of banned books, you can’t go wrong with a Banned Books bracelet with a choice of adult or young adult titles.
Jewelry you can read! These pins and necklaces have exquisite covers that hold an original short story. You can choose your style and your story so personalizing this gift would be easy. It’s too late to order for Christmas, but there are birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day . . .
Lots of booklovers’ gifts here from the Library of Congress include bookmarks, bookplates, wall art, bookends, clothing, mugs and more.
Bookends to end all can be found here. I’m assuming of course that you have room on your shelves for bookends. If you do, there’s no better source. You’ll be amazed at the quality, selection and types.
Bookcases are always needed by all booklovers. But what kind? Wood (light, medium or dark), metal, or wood and metal? Children’s, cube, corner, wall, barrister, specialty, industrial, contemporary, traditional, or headboard bookcases? Bookcases with or without doors? Prices that range from $59 to $6,290. You’ll find them all at CSN Bookcases.
The New Yorker Cartoon Bank offers gifts with imprints of its bookish cartoons. You can get prints, t-shirts, sweatshirts or note cards that proclaim your status as a book lover and reader. In fact, last year I ordered three oversized men’s t-shirts, which have become favorite at-home evening wear.
As you know, we love bookmarks here at BiblioBuffet. And there are quite a few sites that offer them including ones you can design yourself at Book Jewelry, a wide range of gorgeous metal and scented ones at the Bookmark Shop, stunning antique silver ones at Daniel Bexfield Antiques, wonderfully whimsical card-bookmarks from In My Book, lovely brushed stainless steel ones from Mirage and exquisite silk bookmarks from Papilionaceous.
And while this will not help you out for Christmas, don’t forget to enter our bookmark contest. You can win a free bookmark by sending in either a written essay/story or a photo “essay” on the subject of bookmarks. The written essay should be between 300-500 words; a photo essay must contain a minimum of four photographs (and a maximum of eight) that sequentially “tell” a story in an interesting way. The specific subject and how you approach it is entirely up to you—how bookmarks are used, favorite or hated bookmarks, making bookmarks, building a collection of bookmarks, funny stories, finding bookmarks on your travels or in old books. It can be anything as long as it revolves in some way around bookmarks.
Photographs should be e-mailed as JPG file attachments. Written submissions must be pasted into the body of the e-mail. Both types of entries should carry the subject line “Bookmark Contest.” Send them to Submissions.
We welcome entries from all over the world. Winners will be announced in the “On Marking Books” column the week beginning Sunday, January 6.
Rules:
(1) Only original material is accepted; entries must not have been published previously.
(2) One entry per person is permitted. Entrants must include their mailing address (which will not be shared with anyone), and be at least 12 years of age.
(3) BiblioBuffet and Mirage Bookmark reserve the right to publish any or all of the entries on a non-exclusive basis with no additional compensation.
Until next week, read well, read often and read on!
Lauren
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