Another good idea, almost as good as pies

Way back in library school, we had this project where we were supposed to design a plan for our own fictional library. I started with this ambitious project for an all-realia lending library, but I was facing some difficulties conceptualizing how to keep it funded and asked my professor if the library could also sell things. I was firmly told no, that crossed the line from library to bookstore.*

So how does a library -- which should fundamentally not be in the business of selling things -- get in the business of selling things?  Some have book sale areas or even gift shops managed by their local "friends of the library" organization, so it's not the library doing it themselves.

http://pclib.org/

All of this brings me back to Poplar Creek Public Library, which is trying something new -- turning the parking lot into a place where buying and selling takes place, while leaving the library building itself free of commerce (though, to be fair, the library itself does still sell old books and movies inside). 





*(In case you're curious, I found the project too difficult to do alone and joined a team of three classmates on their library plan project. I even wound up doing the presentation to the class for them.)