As of Monday, a Facebook post with pictures of rain-soaked books in recycling bins outside the Access Event Centre in Morden had been shared more than 900 times.

The books are leftovers from the Morden Fire Department's 6th annual fundraising book sale this weekend. Fire Chief Andy Thiessen explains, in the past, unsold books have been shipped to children in Africa; other years books have been sent to communities in northern Manitoba, and last year a community youth took the unsold books to sell for charity.

This year, however, Thiessen notes the books will be sent to Gateway Recycling as no one requested the leftover merchandise.

Thiessen explains the books are originally leftovers from the Winnipeg Children's Hospital annual book sale, not to be confused with the South Central Regional Library (SCRL) book sale May 12.

SCRL Director Cathy Ching says while the books in question were not connected to their popular book sale event, they also agonize every year over what happens to unsold books.

"We try to get the books to as many groups as possible but many find they do not have the capacity for storage," Ching says. "We do not keep any books over for the following year as we depend on the generosity of the Town of Morden and the Access Event Centre to make room for them starting in the fall."

The leftovers from the SCRL book sale were shredded and recycled into insulation.

"If we cannot sell the books, we feel they are at least being put to good use," Ching says.

She adds they are open to ideas on how get leftover books into readers' hands, but explains the cost of packing, transporting and storing them is a challenge.

"If members of the community would like to help us, please do so by contacting any one of our Branches," Ching says. "As a volunteer on the book sale weekend, you would be doing your part to see how much we, as book lovers ourselves, do to find books a new home. We endeavour to do our best with the donations we receive and hope for your continued support in the future."

The fire department's book sale raised nearly $3,000, which will be split between the Winnipeg Children's Hospital and the Manitoba Fallen Firefighters Memorial being built in Winnipeg.