WHAT SHOULD I DO with all these BOOKS?!!?

Question

All through the years, I've collected heaps and heaps and HEAPS of books. Many were bought/given since I was 6 years old. More came along during schooling years and with every new interest formed.

They are like piles of messy pillars. I have no more space and I want a new life. I know I should get rid of them.

I could bring those from the later part of my life to 2nd hand bookstore (Gosh, I wonder how I am going to transport the load?!) or the Salvation Army?!

There are these lots of old, a-quarter-century old children's book which still hold sentimental value to my heart. I doubt people would want them, they've become so old and yellow, unsophisticated in these times. Throwing them away would mean having to treat them as discarded junks. I don't think I'm able to give them away. Children want new things, fanciful things.

HELP ME! SHARE IDEAS OF WHAT I SHOULD DO! CONVINCE ME THAT DISPOSING THEM IS A RIGHT SOLUTION! Please.

Answer 1

Any charity that deals with people, i.e. rescue mission, homeless shelter, reseller i.e used book stores may buy some. Be sure to keep track of how many books you give to charity, they are likely to be tax deductions. Give some to relatives, neighbors, try selling some or the more interesting or current ones on Ebay.

Answer 2

There are lots of good ideas above, and I just wanted to second the suggestion to keep your favorite children's books. Whether or not you ever have kids, those books will be the ones you want to return to because they bring back happy memories. You can always share them with nieces/nephews or friends' children.

The rest -- if you want a quick clearout and don't care about potential value of the books, box them all up and call a charity that will take them. Explain how many boxes of books you have so they know what they are getting into. Many places have trucks that can come pick them up.

If you care about value but don't want to spend all your spare time on ebay, see if one or more of the used bookstore owners will come out and give you a flat sum for everything -- not cherry picking what they want -- EVERYTHING. All or nothing. If they are reputable (and I hope you wouldn't invite anyone unreputable into your home) you could expect to get 10-25% of face value of the books, maybe more if they spot some valuable books in there.

I know it can be very difficult to part with beloved books. I'm going through the same thing myself now. Best of luck with it!

Answer 3

Believe it or not there are families that can not afford to buy brand new books for their kids, grandparents that buy second hand books to keep at their homes for kids and Good Will and Salvation army would accept your books. A lot of the "little golden books" are now collector items the original ones from when I was little (70s). I actually bought my son who is now 12 months old books from salvation army because he is at the stage where he likes to rip things up and a quarter a book is a lot less of a heart ache then a 10 dollar book being torn up. Memories are in your heart not in your books. I learned that when my mother passed and left me a hand carved dinning table and chairs that was so large I could not fit it into my current home and I had to give it away. The memories are still there the physical object is not. You transport them in your car or truck in boxes or large garbage bags. Get your receipt and claim it on taxes

You could even put an AD in your local paper or on freecycle.com or even creigslist.com advertising your books

If you want cash for your books have a yard/garage sale or put them on ebay

Answer 4

Don't throw the books out if there's still part of you that wants to keep them. But if there's some books that are doing nothing but taking up space and you don't have a connection with them that much, then I suggest you get rid of those. I heard a few libraries take books, and there's always garage sales too. Plus, a secondhand bookstore would be a great new home for your books.
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Answer 5

please don't assume that everyone wants new, pretty things. My kids appreciate the fact that some of their books were daddy's or mommy's or even a few from granny and papa's time.
I would suggest:
~a booth at a flea market
~donating to the library (where you could visit ol' yeller should you be feeling misty)
~take to the nursing homes near you for the residents to read to grand babies.
~ask neighbors to help you on a saturday to "unload" your home by picking out their favorite titles.
~If you have favorite children's books, consider taking them apart and framing artwork for your walls, or to sell to other sentimental folks.
~donate to the local gradeschool library, or university library depending on subject matter.

Please don't live in piles and piles of forgotten hobbies and old memories, it's time to breathe a bigger space, and remember that regret looks back, worry looks around, but hope looks straight ahead. Your books are obviously not bringing you joy anymore, so pick a few favorites and share with the rest of the world...however you can.

Answer 6

I'd start by contacting your local library and offering the books to them if they would pick them up. They often can secure volunteers to help with such tasks. Also, you may contact local churches who have thrift stores. They would probably be thrilled to receive such a windfall of old books. We recently donated several old childrens' books to a womens' shelter. This is a place where battered wives escape their abusive husbands (boyfriends?) often with their young children. They can stay there until a permanent and safe living condition can be found. Old wonderful books can be a great solace for children in these circumstances. Schools often look for old books to be donated for their book sales to benefit their sports teams as well. Good luck!

Answer 7

You don't need convincing - you already said that you want a new life.

For the sentimental ones, maybe you could take digital pictures of the covers and make some sort of collage or album.

Then take them all to a preschool group, nursing home, library ... but get them out!

You will feel so "light" and uncluttered!

Enlist an organized friend to help you. You CAN do it.

Best wishes.

Answer 8

eBay! This is a great way to get rid of books and be sure they go to people who want them. You can get their full value or offer them for cheaper, so that new families can afford them. If you feel as if people wouldn't want them, this could be wrong. I have a baby brother, and my mom loves older books. Often my brother enjoys the illustrations and simple stories.

You could donate them to libraries for everyone to enjoy, or send them to a local book sale.

Other than that, charities are always wonderful. So many people would appreciate books, no matter their condition.

I hope I've been helpful!

Answer 9

You can donate to the Library.They Love getting free books.If they are torn it does'nt pay to donate them though.
If you have some that are Rare to find I suggest ebay.Lots of people pay high dollar for the Rare Books!
The childrens books are Very Popular on ebay.Does'nt always matter what condition they are in.
Good Luck!

Answer 10

For those books that you find hard to dispose, keep them in airtight containers to prevent further deterioration. For the rest you can do the following:

- Sell them on the Internet or a flea market.
- to a recycling center
- donate to a public library or school.