What to do with old books?

Thomas_Anderson · Jun 25, 2009

My bookshelf is getting a tad full. Is there a place where I can donate/sell my old books?

While we're on the subject, is there a place where I can take my old movies as well? Gamestop doesn't take them anymore.

ccv707 · Jun 25, 2009

Donate them to me!!!! I can NEVER have enough books.

Or donate them to your local thrift stores, sell them to a used book store, or, perhaps, donate them to a thrift store near ME so I can buy them!!!

Gatita · Jun 25, 2009

I've donated them to my public library, which is in dire need due to city budget cuts. And that way I can always "visit" with them if I miss 'em!

virtue_summer · Jun 26, 2009

I donate to my local library as well.

aadams73 · Jun 26, 2009

What is this "donate/sell" of which you speak?

No, seriously, my non-keepers go to Goodwill.

Linda Adams · Jun 26, 2009

A library sale or a charity sale. We always have a book/video/DVD sale for CFC, so I use it as an opportunity to get rid of books and raise money for charity.

Mumut · Jun 26, 2009

Try Ebay?

Pepper · Jun 26, 2009

Send the good ones to me.

You could donate both books and movies to your local library, or even the library of a local school (depending what you read/watch, of course!). I've done that before. I don't bother trying to find a place to sell them because my books are always so warn after I'm done with them (or, in the instance of my Otherland series, chunks of pages falling out at random)

brainstorm77 · Jun 26, 2009

Goodwill seems like a good idea to me.

Spinetinglers · Jun 26, 2009

If you're going to try selling them on ebay, make sure that you know exactly how much the listing is going to cost you if they don't sell. If you're not careful you could end up with your books and a bill for attempting to sell them.

I would suggest if you want to sell them try either Alibris.com, Abebooks.com or A1 - they'll take part of your final fee but won't charge for the listing and they can stay on until they sell.

Fenika · Jun 26, 2009

Send them to people in countries that restrict what is publicly available.
Or countries that are poor and in need.

We have a thread in SFF that started b/c of that first issue...

Ken · Jun 26, 2009

... dump them in the recycling bin out back :-(
But from now on I'm going to follow the fine examples set here and donate them.

brainstorm77 · Jun 26, 2009

Ken said:
... dump them in the recycling bin out back :-(
But from now on I'm going to follow the fine examples set here and donate them.

Charity is always good!

Bubastes · Jun 26, 2009

I donate mine to the local library or sell them at the used book store.

Mr Flibble · Jun 26, 2009

I donate to charity or - I set them free!

Book crossing is a way of sharing books. You register your book, write a little note in the front (like: I've registered this book at BookCrossing.com so I can track its journey through this world. Please go to www.BookCrossing.com/123-456789 to let me know you found it, then read it and/or pass it on for someone else to enjoy. Thank you!) and then leave it somewhere, say an airport departure lounge.

It's kinda fun seeing where your books get to

And lots of people have picked up a book that they wouldn't normally read and enjoyed it. Oh, I see there's a book been set free in my local Starbucks...

seun · Jun 26, 2009

Donate to your library. Because if there's one thing I love doing at work is going through peoples' tatty, falling apart and smelly books.

Charity is the way forward. Despite budgets being cuts, your library can afford books. Charity shops and the terminally short of cash can't.

stormie · Jun 26, 2009

Libraries. Call first. Sometimes they have a specific time or place to drop the books and videos off.

Or leave them outside a household recycling bin on a nice day (you'd hate to see them ruined if it rains before someone picks them up).

Gatita · Jun 26, 2009

seun said:
Despite budgets being cuts, your library can afford books.

Uhhh, not in my fair town.... we're the now-famous case of the public library (named after hometown hero John Steinbeck) closing b/c of city budgets... Salinas, California.

They've barely re-opened and are sooo appreciative of book donations.

---
PS. But then again, my books don't smell...

megan_d · Jun 26, 2009

The thought of parting with even just one of my books makes me get all nervous. What if I want to read it again some day?

seun · Jun 26, 2009

Gatita said:
---
PS. But then again, my books don't smell...

You should see (or smell) some of the donations we get.

JamieB · Jun 26, 2009

IdiotsRUs said:
I donate to charity or - I set them free!

Book crossing is a way of sharing books. You register your book, write a little note in the front (like: I've registered this book at BookCrossing.com so I can track its journey through this world. Please go to www.BookCrossing.com/123-456789 to let me know you found it, then read it and/or pass it on for someone else to enjoy. Thank you!) and then leave it somewhere, say an airport departure lounge.

It's kinda fun seeing where your books get to

And lots of people have picked up a book that they wouldn't normally read and enjoyed it. Oh, I see there's a book been set free in my local Starbucks...

I love Book Crossing - such a cool idea. It hasn't caught on in my area, but I'm just about ready to part with some of mine.

DeleyanLee · Jun 26, 2009

Several of our local libraries have boxes out in the lobby/foyers for books free to a good home. Sometimes it's amazing what you can find in there.

Gatita · Jun 26, 2009

seun said:
You should see (or smell) some of the donations we get.

em, er, thanks anyway... you hafta wonder though...

NeuroFizz · Jun 26, 2009

Skeet shooting.

Pull.......

Carlene · Jun 26, 2009

I'm wondering if there might be an organization that collects used books and sends them to our troops serving overseas? Maybe a local USO would know? Just a thought. I HATE to destroy or throw away books!

Carlene

What to do with old books?

He who asks, "Why?"

Girl reporter

Always learning

A Work in Progress

Soldier, Storyteller

Well begun is half done...

I IS PRANCING

practical experience, FTW

practical experience, FTW

bananaed

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Horror Man

storm central

Girl reporter

Falling in the milk

Horror Man

Writing Anarchist

Girl reporter

The grad students did it

New kid, be gentle!