Iowans appreciate gift copy of
A Sand County Almanac


When Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac turned 50 last fall, the Leopold Center staff thought the best way to celebrate would be to encourage Iowans to read or revisit these often-quoted essays.

To that end, the Center mailed a copy of the book and a commemorative poster to 573 public libraries, 436 high school libraries, 107 libraries in communities colleges, universities and prisons, as well as the offices of 91 conservation boards, 117 soil and water conservation districts, and 100 county extension units. The mailing brought many warm letters of thanks.

"The majority of books we receive are donated," writes the librarian for the women's correctional facility in Mitchellville. "We were elated to receive such a classic to place among our other reading materials."

Karen Parmer, media specialist at Grinnell Community High School, thanked the Center for the book and said it would be useful for students. "[A] front-page headline, 'Fewer Iowa farmers practicing soil conservation' is a reminder that there is still a need to promote sustainable agriculture and to continue Aldo Leopold's work to restore and preserve the land," she writes.

The Center also mailed the book to anyone who requested it, an offer that appeared in the state's largest newspaper and was mentioned in our fall newsletter. Staff members responded to requests for an additional 176 books, some from scientists as far away as West Africa and New Delhi who receive the newsletter. Other requests came from teachers, conservation students, as well as people simply interested in the environment.

"I think it would be helpful as a resource guide as our rural church community begins to focus on becoming sustainable, which is not the direction we're moving now," writes a reader from Eldora.

Some people couldn't believe that we were serious about the offer. "Is this offer true? For free? Really?" writes one reader. An out-of-state agronomist said he was embarrassed to admit he had read only portions of the Almanacs, and would be delighted to have his own copy.

Any doubts about the mark that Aldo Leopold leaves on his home state have vanished. His words are appreciated as much today as when they were written 50 years ago.


Return to the Spring 2000 Leopold Letter index