I want advice on how to get rid of paper book collection? - Page 2

elizilla · 02-01-2011, 12:44 PM

Purple Heart will send a truck out to pick things up, at least in my area. All you have to do is call and ask. They call every couple of months to say they're coming through on their regular route, and do we have anything? I usually do.

Last time they were here I gave them three shopping bags full of books. Next time, I expect to give them even more.

They will make a special trip to pick your stuff up if you have enough stuff, and this sounds like it's enough stuff for them.

You can also give them old clothes and household items, which you probably have if you are clearing things to move. They will give you a receipt for your tax deduction.

CrayWolf · 02-01-2011, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbrand

WHAT? so you have to enter the store with a sign that reads "I am a straight Christian"? come on.....

Salvation Army is more than just their stores. They provide disaster relief, or not, depending on who is asking.

I'm not going to start a debate on their practices here, this isn't the place. There is plenty of evidence out there for those who care to look. If their practices don't bother you, that's fine.

tponzo · 02-01-2011, 01:13 PM

I donated dozens of boxes of books to a local nursing home once. They were happy to get them and the residents are so varied that there's something for every one. Also don't know if someone mentioned it but try homeless shelters.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 02-01-2011, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

When I cleared out all of my books, I knew that it would be worth more than the IRS would allow without verification. I took a couple of clear photos of the collection. Then I used the ISBN number to find the used book value, so that I could document the donation in a nice simple table. The task is not too onerous. Especially if you can make a party of it with some pizza and friends.

Yeah... but for over a thousand books? You have better friends than I! (Probably more of them, too.)

If you still have them when the snow is gone, and you do decide to have a yard sale for other items, just put the books out free for the taking... as a thank-you gift for shopping.

natasha_fawn · 02-01-2011, 01:32 PM

Another idea that might be worth looking into is charitable organizations that do yearly "garage sales." The humane society I used to live by would take donations all year of anything resellable (lots of romance books!) for theirs.

lilac_jive · 02-01-2011, 01:32 PM

Have them check their local AAUW chapter (funds scholarships for women who've been out of the workforce). Most have an annual book sale and take donations. You can also check booksalefinder.com, see what events are coming up locally and see if they will take donations.

There's always a ton of nonprofits on there and I'm sure they will take donations as long as it's a week or more before the event.

Poppaea · 02-01-2011, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Heck, check with a nearby prison. Who knows, maybe there are inmates who are interested in reading and bettering themselves. Or see if there is a local literacy group.

Are we talking crime/thrillers here?

DixieGal · 02-01-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppaea

Are we talking crime/thrillers here?

Gwen Morse · 02-01-2011, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrayWolf

Salvation Army is more than just their stores. They provide disaster relief, or not, depending on who is asking.

I'm not going to start a debate on their practices here, this isn't the place. There is plenty of evidence out there for those who care to look. If their practices don't bother you, that's fine.

I appreciate the heads up about Salvation Army. While *I'm* both straight and Christian, I'd prefer to donate to a charity that doesn't limit their outreach. I think my relative feels the same way.

Of course, they're in the position of being beggars (as far as wanting to get rid of books). I hadn't thought about the local prison.

Maybe we could break the books up into a few larger lots and then distribute them (hospital, prison, charity). That way we can spread some of the good (and limit the storage burden on the recipients).

pixiestyx · 02-01-2011, 07:49 PM

Does "GotBooks" service your area? They will send a truck for pick-up, but they also team up with various organizations and provide collection bins. I haven't used them myself but a friend who works with the local Blue Star Mothers recommended their GotBooks collection bin to me when I mentioned that I was thinking of getting rid of a good portion of my collection due to lack of space.

hike_gc · 02-01-2011, 10:02 PM

Consider donating your books to local schools and adult literacy centers. Schools struggling with funding issues often don't have enough books in their libraries and classrooms for students to read.

J. Strnad · 02-02-2011, 01:05 AM

Unfortunately, you're learning how quickly books can go from "prized collection" to "recyclables." I remember driving around L.A. with a pickup bed full of books, going from used bookstore to used bookstore, only to have them say, "We don't need any more books" or "we only buy on Thursdays" or "I'll take these six."

I donated mine to the local library for a sale, but I'm sure most of them ended up in the recycle bin.

We also have semi-regular yard sales, and books never sell well, even at a dime for paperbacks and a quarter for hardbacks.

Sad.

OtterBooks · 02-02-2011, 01:41 AM

Quote:

A local used book store will pick through them and pay some small amount for each book they take. However, they're already advising they'll be very picky and so probably won't take many books (maybe a couple hundred at most). They simply don't have the space for any more at once.

I used to be a book buyer for a large used bookstore (like the size of a Borders). Believe them when they say that, lol. We would occasionally get called to estates that were getting rid of books, and maybe take 1 out of 20. Average cash payout was like 5-25 cents per book unless we found collectibles.

Keryl Raist · 02-02-2011, 02:29 PM

Most VA hospitals are happy to get all sorts of books. Not sure if they'll pick up (I didn't bother to find out when I donated my books) but the Vets who are healing up do need things to do to kill the time. Books are always welcome.

dacattt · 02-02-2011, 02:56 PM

There are groups that are asking for books for service men. The trick there is finding a group in your city so you don't have to ship it to a donation point.

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02-01-2011, 12:44 PM	#16
elizilla Addict Posts: 271 Karma: 610286 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Michigan, USA Device: Kobo Elipsa, Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Sage, others	Purple Heart will send a truck out to pick things up, at least in my area. All you have to do is call and ask. They call every couple of months to say they're coming through on their regular route, and do we have anything? I usually do. Last time they were here I gave them three shopping bags full of books. Next time, I expect to give them even more. They will make a special trip to pick your stuff up if you have enough stuff, and this sounds like it's enough stuff for them. You can also give them old clothes and household items, which you probably have if you are clearing things to move. They will give you a receipt for your tax deduction.

02-01-2011, 01:13 PM	#18
tponzo Addict Posts: 239 Karma: 237 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: OH USA Device: Sony PRS 900(gave it to my sister); Sony PRS-T1; onyx book note air	I donated dozens of boxes of books to a local nursing home once. They were happy to get them and the residents are so varied that there's something for every one. Also don't know if someone mentioned it but try homeless shelters.

02-01-2011, 01:32 PM	#20
natasha_fawn Evangelist Posts: 414 Karma: 184633 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony PRS-950 (finally!)	Another idea that might be worth looking into is charitable organizations that do yearly "garage sales." The humane society I used to live by would take donations all year of anything resellable (lots of romance books!) for theirs.

02-01-2011, 01:32 PM	#21
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	Have them check their local AAUW chapter (funds scholarships for women who've been out of the workforce). Most have an annual book sale and take donations. You can also check booksalefinder.com, see what events are coming up locally and see if they will take donations. There's always a ton of nonprofits on there and I'm sure they will take donations as long as it's a week or more before the event.

02-01-2011, 07:49 PM	#25
pixiestyx Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 483410 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New England Device: Aura H2O; N7 2013; Samsung GN 10.1 2014	Does "GotBooks" service your area? They will send a truck for pick-up, but they also team up with various organizations and provide collection bins. I haven't used them myself but a friend who works with the local Blue Star Mothers recommended their GotBooks collection bin to me when I mentioned that I was thinking of getting rid of a good portion of my collection due to lack of space.

02-01-2011, 10:02 PM	#26
hike_gc Zealot Posts: 142 Karma: 556 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Erie, Colorado Device: Kindle Voyage, Nook	Consider donating your books to local schools and adult literacy centers. Schools struggling with funding issues often don't have enough books in their libraries and classrooms for students to read.

02-02-2011, 01:05 AM	#27
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	Unfortunately, you're learning how quickly books can go from "prized collection" to "recyclables." I remember driving around L.A. with a pickup bed full of books, going from used bookstore to used bookstore, only to have them say, "We don't need any more books" or "we only buy on Thursdays" or "I'll take these six." I donated mine to the local library for a sale, but I'm sure most of them ended up in the recycle bin. We also have semi-regular yard sales, and books never sell well, even at a dime for paperbacks and a quarter for hardbacks. Sad.

02-02-2011, 02:29 PM	#29
Keryl Raist Zealot Posts: 140 Karma: 379182 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Device: Kindle for PC	Most VA hospitals are happy to get all sorts of books. Not sure if they'll pick up (I didn't bother to find out when I donated my books) but the Vets who are healing up do need things to do to kill the time. Books are always welcome.

02-02-2011, 02:56 PM	#30
dacattt Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 3102 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Los Angeles Device: Astak 6 EZ Reader Plus	There are groups that are asking for books for service men. The trick there is finding a group in your city so you don't have to ship it to a donation point.

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