(Setting: My "liberry." A man enters the building and approaches the desk, bearing a single volume from a set of encyclopedias.)
ME: Can I help you?
MAN: Yes, I wanted to see if your library would be interested in having these. I have the whole set and they're very, very nice.
ME: (I look down at his book, which is indeed a very, very nice E volume, gilded edges and all, from the year 1987.) Well, I'm sure we could accept them. We often sell encyclopedia sets in our book sale.
MAN: Oh. I thought you could use them here at the library.
ME: Well, no. We already have a current set of encyclopedias in our collection and yours are from 1987.
MAN: But, they're very, very nice.
ME: They are.
MAN: And you can't use them?
ME: Not for the collection, but we could possibly sell them in the book sale.
MAN: (Long pause) I... I... I'd rather give them to someone who'll use them. Maybe I can find someone else to take them.
ME: I understand, sir. I understand.
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