A thousand stories
Hi there – I’m Donna. I’m the founder of this exciting and daunting project. This is my space to share my joys and challenges – a place where I can use my words to draw you in, and bring you with me on this epic adventure. I was once accused of always “writing a novel” to say a simple thing and, well, this is where the forever novel of Books in Hand is going to live.
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Focusing direction
2/16/25 – OK, kids, it’s time to focus in. The paperwork was filed on 9/22/25, so technically this all started in September, but effectively it was really October. The first 2 months were just trying to get ducks in a row. December was…well…December. As it is every year. January I…
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Shelves!
2/10/26 OMG, give a mouse a cookie… I ran out of space. I took in an estate collection I wasn’t intending to take, and…I just…ran out of space. So, build some shelves. Easy, right? Ugh. First, box up all of the books on the current shelves. Move out the current…
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Getting started p/2
1/21/26 – OK, where do I apply to get more hours in a day? Is there a department that handles that? Seriously, people ask me, “When do you sleep?” And I answer, that I just…don’t. I just kind of keep going, until I literally can’t keep my eyes open any…
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Getting started p/1
1/1/26 – It’s been a little over a month since I did an entry. I got frustrated with the whole 501 thing, then I got busy. Then it got cold and rainy. Then the days got shorter and darker. I needed to concentrate on self-care, leading up to solstice. Then…
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The first steps p/5
11/25/25 My long-term goal, is to do a proof-of-concept sort of feeling-my-way for a year or two, and then start looking for funding. Then, I want to be the one that any group or individual can come to, and say “I want to build and maintain 25 Little Free Libraries…
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The first steps p/4
11/20/25 Let’s talk about social anxiety. I have so many ideas, so many thoughts about where I want to go with this. I know that some will not work out, but a lot of them will soar and just explode in potential and possibilities, and end up driving themselves into…
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The first steps p/3
11/14/25 Today is 26 days into the 22 day batch processing period for the 501c3 number. The IRS came back from furlough day before yesterday, so I don’t know if the 22 days starts afresh, or if some progress has been made. In any case, my ducks are still swimming.…
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The first steps p/2
11/7/25 I am sooooo close to having my ducks in a row! They’re all in the same pond, and swimming in a circle! The non-profit bank account has been approved. I’m starting to make a few contacts with partner groups. I got my first donation of 1000 books. I have…
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The first steps p/1
10/30/25 I jumped in. I got the California paperwork filed, and processed. I talked to a lawyer, and made sure that I was on the right track for everything. I found a group of people to be on my Board. I wrote the bylaws, and the conflict of interest document,…
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What led me here p/3
10/23/25 Even after talking to my brother, it still seemed like a fairy dream. Sure, let’s just jump in and start a non-profit. Sure, let’s just be queen of the world, and run the show. Sure, my super-power is to stand on the outside of the puzzle box, looking at…
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What led me here p/2
10/9/25 I let the idea of starting a non-profit spin in my brain for a while, and then I slept and ate and did my daily stuff, and repeated a couple of times. After that, it all seemed silly. Why would I want to start a third career? Why would…
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What led me here
– 10/5/25 – About 15 years ago, I was visiting my family in Tucson. I was bored, so I started browsing Craigslist. (As one does…) I found someone advertising 1000 vintage books for $700. Of course, I had to go and look. (I think there is a law or something…