Disposing of paper books

CallOfCth'reader · 08-18-2010, 03:17 PM

I have a number of books that I'll probably get rid of, one way or another, in the fairly near future. I'm not sure what to do with them though. The recycler in me wants to stick them in the paper bins, while the book lover wants to share them with other people. The problem with sharing them, is how to actually go about finding people who want them (when really, I'd just like to get rid of them in one lump).

How do you go about disposing of yours?

texasnightowl · 08-18-2010, 03:24 PM

I donated several hundred of them to Goodwill Industries last summer (they run some thrift stores here in the states with the money going towards job training and such). I could have taken them to a used book store and gotten store credit or possibly some minimal cash, but honestly there weren't any very good ones around me so I took them to Goodwill.

Lady Fitzgerald · 08-18-2010, 03:37 PM

I'm scanning all of my p-books so, to be legal (and ethical), I have to bin mine (trash them, for those on my side of the pond). I don't know how popular thrift stores (used goods stores) or used book stores are where you are, but here, both are fairly popular. Charity stores (similiar to thrift stores) are another possibility. Libraries may be interested in taking your entire collection off your hands for the privilege of gleaning books for their collection then they could hold a sale to dispose of the remainder.

The Old Man · 08-18-2010, 03:41 PM

I drop them off at my local library. If they don't want them they offer them for sale a couple of times a year. Funds go to the library.

queentess · 08-18-2010, 03:59 PM

For a little bit of fun, you could take one or two every time you go out and leave them on a bench somewhere with a note that says "Free to a good home"

When I got rid of my books, I called a couple friends and they showed up to cart away everything they wanted. Everything else went to my local library.

JeremyZ · 08-18-2010, 04:09 PM

We have a book trading bookshelf at work. Everyone who has books to dispose of or share just drops them off there. Some are borrowed, some are adopted, and some are ignored.

If you don't have something like this at your employer, why not start one? It can be just a small, humble spot on a community desk or counter with a sign, and a few of your own books to start.

As people catch on, they'll leave books there that you might enjoy.

If that is not doable, donate them to your local library.

Recycling or throwing them out is the last resort.

rlparker · 08-18-2010, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by queentess

For a little bit of fun, you could take one or two every time you go out and leave them on a bench somewhere with a note that says "Free to a good home"

...

There's a website for that! Haven't ever tried it but it seems like a kinda neat idea.

Mike L · 08-18-2010, 04:26 PM

Give 'em to Oxfam. They have a central clearing house, with knoweldgeable staff, who will classify and price the books, and send them out to the shops where they are most likely to sell. If you have a reasonably large number, they'll even pick up the books from your house.

Richard Herley · 08-18-2010, 04:32 PM

^^
What everyone else said -- and I'm sure local schools would love any titles that might be suitable.

Nokia179 · 08-18-2010, 04:34 PM

I have always donated the books to the local libraries, Since I feel better donating them than they ending up in a land fill since there is no recycle program in the part of Texas that I reside at.

eric11210 · 08-18-2010, 04:39 PM

Or, if all else fails, I believe that Freecycle is worldwide and you should find someone happy to come by and pick them all up from you in person so you can be done with them:

http://www.freecycle.org/group/?noautodetect=1

I've used Freecycle on numerous occasions and things just fly right out the door.

shanghaichica · 08-18-2010, 07:19 PM

I usually give them to charity shops.

carld · 08-18-2010, 07:54 PM

I gave mine to Goodwill.

Stitchawl · 08-18-2010, 08:25 PM

My 'local' library didn't have ANY books in English, so when I gave them several hundred books they were able to start a 'Foreign Language' section. I was in the library a few weeks ago, and noticed that this new area now has books in German, Swedish, and Spanish! Admiral Perry did a very good thing when he 'opened Japan' to the West, but it takes a combined effort to really make it international!!

Stitchawl

Rich_D · 08-18-2010, 08:35 PM

I gave a batch to my library, and then I posted an ad on Craigslist "4 boxes of books free - you haul". They were gone in 3 hours.

08-18-2010, 03:17 PM	#1
CallOfCth'reader Cultist Posts: 196 Karma: 8624438 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS 505, Kobo Mini, Kobo Glo, Kobo Forma, Kindle DX	Disposing of paper books I have a number of books that I'll probably get rid of, one way or another, in the fairly near future. I'm not sure what to do with them though. The recycler in me wants to stick them in the paper bins, while the book lover wants to share them with other people. The problem with sharing them, is how to actually go about finding people who want them (when really, I'd just like to get rid of them in one lump). How do you go about disposing of yours?

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08-18-2010, 03:24 PM	#2
texasnightowl Guru Posts: 812 Karma: 2873645 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas Device: PW5, Oasis 3, K4B(NT), K3/KK	I donated several hundred of them to Goodwill Industries last summer (they run some thrift stores here in the states with the money going towards job training and such). I could have taken them to a used book store and gotten store credit or possibly some minimal cash, but honestly there weren't any very good ones around me so I took them to Goodwill.

08-18-2010, 03:37 PM	#3
Lady Fitzgerald Wizard Posts: 2,013 Karma: 251649 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tempe, AZ, USA, Earth Device: JetBook Lite (away from home) + 1 spare, 32" TV (at home)	I'm scanning all of my p-books so, to be legal (and ethical), I have to bin mine (trash them, for those on my side of the pond). I don't know how popular thrift stores (used goods stores) or used book stores are where you are, but here, both are fairly popular. Charity stores (similiar to thrift stores) are another possibility. Libraries may be interested in taking your entire collection off your hands for the privilege of gleaning books for their collection then they could hold a sale to dispose of the remainder.

08-18-2010, 03:41 PM	#4
The Old Man Fanatic Posts: 566 Karma: 1560525 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Keene, New Hampshire Device: iPad Mini	I drop them off at my local library. If they don't want them they offer them for sale a couple of times a year. Funds go to the library.

08-18-2010, 03:59 PM	#5
queentess Reading is sexy Posts: 1,303 Karma: 544517 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: none	For a little bit of fun, you could take one or two every time you go out and leave them on a bench somewhere with a note that says "Free to a good home" When I got rid of my books, I called a couple friends and they showed up to cart away everything they wanted. Everything else went to my local library.

08-18-2010, 04:09 PM	#6
JeremyZ Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 1000702 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chicago Device: Nook ST, Kindle 2, Samsung Galaxy Stellar phone	We have a book trading bookshelf at work. Everyone who has books to dispose of or share just drops them off there. Some are borrowed, some are adopted, and some are ignored. If you don't have something like this at your employer, why not start one? It can be just a small, humble spot on a community desk or counter with a sign, and a few of your own books to start. As people catch on, they'll leave books there that you might enjoy. If that is not doable, donate them to your local library. Recycling or throwing them out is the last resort.

08-18-2010, 04:26 PM	#8
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	Give 'em to Oxfam. They have a central clearing house, with knoweldgeable staff, who will classify and price the books, and send them out to the shops where they are most likely to sell. If you have a reasonably large number, they'll even pick up the books from your house.

08-18-2010, 04:32 PM	#9
Richard Herley Author Posts: 203 Karma: 1164907 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	^^ What everyone else said -- and I'm sure local schools would love any titles that might be suitable.

08-18-2010, 04:34 PM	#10
Nokia179 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 20 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: The Lone Star State Device: Nook	I have always donated the books to the local libraries, Since I feel better donating them than they ending up in a land fill since there is no recycle program in the part of Texas that I reside at.

08-18-2010, 04:39 PM	#11
eric11210 Addict Posts: 295 Karma: 400001 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Sony Reader PRS-600	Or, if all else fails, I believe that Freecycle is worldwide and you should find someone happy to come by and pick them all up from you in person so you can be done with them: http://www.freecycle.org/group/?noautodetect=1 I've used Freecycle on numerous occasions and things just fly right out the door.

08-18-2010, 07:19 PM	#12
shanghaichica Guru Posts: 991 Karma: 5782970 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Scribe,Kindle Oasis 3, iPad Pro 11,15 Pro Max,iPad mini 7,colorsoft	I usually give them to charity shops.

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08-18-2010, 07:54 PM	#13
carld Wizard Posts: 2,698 Karma: 4748723 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I gave mine to Goodwill.

08-18-2010, 08:25 PM	#14
Stitchawl Opsimath Posts: 12,344 Karma: 187123287 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy	My 'local' library didn't have ANY books in English, so when I gave them several hundred books they were able to start a 'Foreign Language' section. I was in the library a few weeks ago, and noticed that this new area now has books in German, Swedish, and Spanish! Admiral Perry did a very good thing when he 'opened Japan' to the West, but it takes a combined effort to really make it international!! Stitchawl

08-18-2010, 08:35 PM	#15
Rich_D Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1314896 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA Device: Android phone, Kobo Glo HD, nook ST with Glo (backup)	I gave a batch to my library, and then I posted an ad on Craigslist "4 boxes of books free - you haul". They were gone in 3 hours.