Sold books online (one at a time, so only ones that could earn a lot)
Sold books in lots on Craigslist and in local groups
Donated them to my local library and Salvation Army
Given them to my kids’ school
Given them to friends (after inquiring about their interest in the specific titles or authors)
Left them.in a box outside labeled “Free Please Take”
Placed them.in the free book thingy near my home where neighbors leave or take books (it looks sort of like an old time call box except with shelves and a glass door on top)
Our train station has a straight up wood bookshelf for the take a book, leave a book thing. There should be a whole library sized one at every airport considering some of the delays.
In our country we have these peddlers who buy papers, books, metal items for cheap and then they resell them to recycle then ultimately or for other uses.
Was about to say. Burn them. They make great fire starter. Arguably one of the densest and best. I’d love the thought as an author to have my words burned away for someone’s enjoyment too.
I think that’s dependent on the library. The few libraries I’m familiar with are always happy to accept donated books and put them in circulation (as long as they’re in good condition).
It probably also depends on the book. I have tons of outdated books on obscure topics within engineering, science, and computing. I doubt anyone would check out my 1995 book on the Vi text editor from a library. Although, if I’m lucky, perhaps it could be a collectors item some day. In reality, I’m probably going to just say “thank you for helping me so many years ago” and respectfully recycle the book.
That’s probably true, I would expect libraries not be very interested in obsolete technical books.
However, I image many of the books people have don’t match that description. And in my experience libraries (especially school libraries) are happy to take them.
The books you are talking about are mass produced commodity items, right? If you don’t want them anymore and don’t know anyone else who does just treat them like any other print product and toss 'em out. They weren’t painstakingly copied by monks, the knowledge inside will not be lost, just being a book doesn’t make them special.
Signed, someone who had to teal with a slew of outdated guidebooks, encyclopedias, cookbooks, reader’s digest issues, never-read novels and whatever else from a deceased relative because they just couldn’t bring themselves to put them in the recycling bin.
If you have one nearby then maybe, but I bet you even they don’t want that slightly water damaged, smelly copy of some cheapo 80s encyclopedia.
Around here it’s also relatively common to sell old books by weight/volume, either on flea markets or classifieds/Ebay. But sometimes it literally isn’t worth the effort.
Another vote for charity shops/thrift stores. It’s a good way to raise a little money for charity and for someone to get a book they might no afford at full price.
I don’t know about the rest of the world but here in the UK, supermarkets and businesses sometimes have a little bookshelf. You leave any books you don’t want and people can take them putting a few coins in a collection tin that goes to a good cause.
Another thing to do is take them to work, colleagues might well want them.
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If they’re in good condition, selling them to a used bookstore or donating them to a library are good ideas.
Do your best impression of a Christian Nationalist and have a book burning.
Donate them to the library or used bookstore
if they are of decent quality a snd hand book store might take them
I have:
Our train station has a straight up wood bookshelf for the take a book, leave a book thing. There should be a whole library sized one at every airport considering some of the delays.
Give them away.
Take them to a used bookstore.
Here in Toronto we have free little libraries. I would just put them in there.
They have them in Vancouver too. I love the idea of this being more widespread!
In our country we have these peddlers who buy papers, books, metal items for cheap and then they resell them to recycle then ultimately or for other uses.
Make a little library on your front lawn and fill it up,before you know it they will be gone and people will have put others in its place.
Love these! We have one in my neighborhood and it’s pretty convenient to drop off my read pile in there.
Libraries throw away a shitload of donations. Donate or sell what you can, if you want.
Don’t feel bad about throwing away old books. Books published now don’t last very long, and anything we have is already archived somewhere anyway.
fire
Was about to say. Burn them. They make great fire starter. Arguably one of the densest and best. I’d love the thought as an author to have my words burned away for someone’s enjoyment too.
Donate to library or school if in decent condition. Recycle if not.
I worked for a library. Most books we got donated, even if they were in good condition would just get pitched. We just had no need for them.
I think that’s dependent on the library. The few libraries I’m familiar with are always happy to accept donated books and put them in circulation (as long as they’re in good condition).
It probably also depends on the book. I have tons of outdated books on obscure topics within engineering, science, and computing. I doubt anyone would check out my 1995 book on the Vi text editor from a library. Although, if I’m lucky, perhaps it could be a collectors item some day. In reality, I’m probably going to just say “thank you for helping me so many years ago” and respectfully recycle the book.
That’s probably true, I would expect libraries not be very interested in obsolete technical books.
However, I image many of the books people have don’t match that description. And in my experience libraries (especially school libraries) are happy to take them.
I guess the libraries and schools can make the decision and throw out things they don’t find useful.
Based on Fahrenheit 451: Call your local Firefighter.
The books you are talking about are mass produced commodity items, right? If you don’t want them anymore and don’t know anyone else who does just treat them like any other print product and toss 'em out. They weren’t painstakingly copied by monks, the knowledge inside will not be lost, just being a book doesn’t make them special.
Signed, someone who had to teal with a slew of outdated guidebooks, encyclopedias, cookbooks, reader’s digest issues, never-read novels and whatever else from a deceased relative because they just couldn’t bring themselves to put them in the recycling bin.
just … bring them to a library or thrift store… they’re better at figuring out what’s actually valuable
If you have one nearby then maybe, but I bet you even they don’t want that slightly water damaged, smelly copy of some cheapo 80s encyclopedia.
Around here it’s also relatively common to sell old books by weight/volume, either on flea markets or classifieds/Ebay. But sometimes it literally isn’t worth the effort.
Another vote for charity shops/thrift stores. It’s a good way to raise a little money for charity and for someone to get a book they might no afford at full price.
I don’t know about the rest of the world but here in the UK, supermarkets and businesses sometimes have a little bookshelf. You leave any books you don’t want and people can take them putting a few coins in a collection tin that goes to a good cause.
Another thing to do is take them to work, colleagues might well want them.