I have a dictionary that weighs about 20 lbs.

[misskitty100]

My grandmother gave me a HUGE Websters 2nd addition, unabridged dictionary. It is about the size of a toaster oven only waaaay heavier!!

What would be the best way to get rid of, er, I mean "donate" this item? Would a library be interested in having it?

Not sure that it serves a purpose any more.....

[DeeK]

Are you sure you won't use it?

I use mine frequently. It's a lot quicker than the computer sometimes.

But, if you really want to get rid of it, I'm sure the local elementary school would like to have it. Even in this age of computers, they still try to teach kids to use reference books and I would think a dictionary would be almost timeless (unlike encyclopedias).

[AndreaU]

Ditto what DeeK said! I teach 5th grade and I have a HUGE unabridged dictionary from 1970-something that the kids absolutely love to use. Whenever one of them has to look something up, it's a big-time competition as to who gets to use the "big" dictionary.

[misskitty100]

Here is a picture of the dictionary that makes the bottle of water look tiny. It is sooo huge I won't use it -- just too cumbersome! Maybe I should ask if there are any teachers at the school up the street that would be interested. Thanks for the help!!;)

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o138/misskitty3/DSCN5893.jpg

[cangoss]

They're actually worth a bit of money - maybe you could sell it at a used book store or donate it to your library's book sale?

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?kn=unabridged&sts=t&tn=webster%27s+new+international+dictionary+second +edition&x=0&y=0

[shscharles]

I work in adult literacy training and most Literacy Councils (google it or look in your phone book for one in your area) would love to have this! I frequently buy used dictionaries for my students when they have learned the alphabet and are ready to look words up. Illiteracy and poverty usually go hand in hand and buying a dictionary (forget a computer!) is just too much.

What a treasure! I have two unabridged dictionaries in my house...opened and ready for use!:D

[DeeK]

We bought ours back when my son was in second grade (he's now 25). He had to look up the definition for tintinabulation and our little dictionary did not have it.

We lucked into a huge Webster's New Universal Unabridged on a sale table at the bookstore for less than $20! :D I think I've probably used it more than he did over the years, but we all go to it first thing when we need a word looked up.

It's pages have browned and turned the tiniest bit brittle so it probably won't last forever, but it has served us well.