What to do with all the books?

[amcal]

What do you do with all the books you've read?

We cleaned out DD's room last night and I've got over 100 children's books I need to do something with. Plus, I'm doing my bookshelf today so that will add a ton more.

Do you donate? Sell them on craigslist/ebay/half.com etc... ? Take them to a used bookstore for credit?

[HappilyEvrAfter]

I guess it depends on whether or not you're looking to recoup some of the price.

I'll be taking some to our base library since they take donation books and ours are in really good condition.
Some of our local shelters take paperbacks and kids books for general use.
A local daycare here takes baby friendly books in good condition.

I've taken books to trade/buy back stores, but didn't make a ton of money from it.
Have also sold them in garage sales...not much to be made there either.

[Thalia the Muse]

I donate books -- usually to DD's school, but if not there then to Goodwill.

I find it really infuriating to haul a giant box of books to the used book store, to have them sneer at and reject half of them, and to come away with pennies on the dollar. I love BUYING used books, but selling them back isn't worth it to me.

[lorijds]

Used bookstore for credit.

What they don't take, we take donate to the public library. Which in turn sells all donated books at a sale twice a year to raise money for the library.

[sapphire_chan]

In large quantities, I take them to the library for their booksale. In smaller quantities, I list them on bookcrossing.com and do a wild release.

[Traci mom23boys]

I use and love www.paperbackswap.com. I have cleaned out all the ho-hum books in my library and have created a wonderfully diverse library for our family. The website is pretty self-explanatory. If you have any questions I would glad to answer them. I have been using it for 2 or 3 yrs now.

I have also donated lots over the years to Goodwill but I love sending and receiving books through PBS.

~Traci

mom to 3 homebirthed teenage sons:

here is a link to the help page

http://www.paperbackswap.com/help/help_item.php?id=209

[BookGoddess]

If I have a lot of books to clear, I donate to the local library for the Friends of the Library book sales or to Goodwill.

If I have a few books (20 or less), I put the books up for swap at paperbackswap.com. The previous poster provided the link. It's a great site. No money changes hands. I've given away so many books and received hundreds of dollars worth of books.

Traci - Hi! It's been a long time since I "saw" you on MDC.

[Traci mom23boys]

Hi BookGoddess! I have been really busy with my farm in the last year but I sometimes come on to get a *book-talk* fix! Thanks for saying Hi!

I hope all is well with you and your family,

[BookGoddess]

Things are going ok with us. Thanks for asking. I'll probably see you on the Country Living board since I lurk there now.

[amcal]

I never thought of checking the kids school library to see if they wanted them. I called and they were THRILLED to have them How did I not think of that before

I'll probably list all the adult titles on paperback swap. Thanks for the ideas!

[samstress]

i usually just donate them to a local library. once i've decided to get rid of them i just want them out of the house. donating seems like the easiest way to do that.

[SparklingGemini]

Donate to library, list on craiglist and paperbackswap.

Of course those are all after I've offered any books to my family and friends first.

I really like PBS(paperbackswap.) I wish media mail was a bit cheaper though...

[raksmama]

I recently donated most of my sons "baby" books to his school library. They were also really happy to get them.

As for my own books...I end up donating them too. I have never had any luck selling them. I've lived on 3 different continents and moved many times. Every time I tell myself I will not longer buy any more books and will just check them out from the library but I have not been so good about that lately. All the books I wanted were checked out with long waiting lists, so I gave in.

At least I think I have finally stayed put.

[Savoir Faire]

Children's Hospitals are great place for things like these. They often have lending libraries in them for the kids...and also take things for the parents.

If you don't have a hospital just for children, check any major medical center... they'd probably be happy to take in some books.

Also...perhaps a shelter for abused women and children? The library?

[RiverSky]

Ummm, we store them on bookcases and read them over and over again? And save them for future children? And guests? I think we're up to about 10 6' high bookcases... DH does also use paperbackswap on occasion (kids books go so quickly on there) for when he accidentally buys doubles, hahaha! We're bad...