Quote:
Originally Posted by kandwo
Wouldn't it be easier and make more sense to donate books to second hand stores rather than libraries? Or are those not a thing around there?
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Second-hand bookstores often have restrictions on what they will (can) accept. Generally, second-hand books don't fly off the shelves quickly, and don't have high resale value, and storage and display cost time and money. Stores have to prioritise what will sell and what will attract customers - so they can either be picky, or they can choose to take it all and incur the costs of disposal of some of it.
For second-hand stores with more general stock, all of the above applies (and the footfall factor possibly even more strongly - books just don't get customers in the way many other items do). And as staff in these stores are unlikely to be able to distinguish between which books are likely to sell and which aren't, many more general second-hand stores choose not to accept books at all - the potential value of one or two high-value books doesn't balance out the definite costs of storage and disposal.
Just as with libraries - ask first, listen to what they need/want (if anything), and be selective about what and where you choose to donate.
And as this thread started out talking about children reading - some schools, especially those in areas of high poverty, or with many refugee students, or with low parental education levels, might be very happy to receive quantities of clean, usable, no-conditions-attached children's books. They can be added to what's available in school, or given to children to take home and keep. Charities which work with these groups of children might also be interested. But again - bear in mind that however good your intentions, the schools/charities know better what they can use and what is just a burden. Ask first and be thoughtful about what you donate and its condition.