Should I donate books?

738 Views 17 Replies 16 Participants Last post by The Hidden Life, Sep 6, 2009

Beauchamp

Discussion Starter · Aug 31, 2009

I am wandering around my house looking for things to declutter. I packed up a load of stuff to go to Goodwill and I am eyeballing my bookshelf...I love to read, and have lots of paperback books.

I have always held onto them, because I just like having books around. But lately I've been wondering if I shouldn't send them out into the world for other people to enjoy?

Do you donate books or keep them around?

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

sweetcheeks

· #2 · Aug 31, 2009

I've always donated them. The Rotary club in town has a huge used book sale every fall so I donate books to them. If I want to read one again, I'll borrow it from the library.

Caneel

· #3 · Aug 31, 2009

Donate.

I am on round whatever of decluttering books. It is one of my weaknesses, getting rid of books but I am finding the empty shelf space to be so useful for things we actually use on a regular basis as opposed to books that I might read or re-read years down the road.

RunAround

· #4 · Aug 31, 2009

We donate. I've become a heavy user of the local library/interlibrary loan system. We have a few books that would be difficult to replace or that we use for reference and the kids have some that they can enjoy without supervision (you know, in case pages get ripped while they are experiencing them). But, I like knowing that boxes and boxes and boxes of books have gone from my home out into the world to be shared far and wide. And, I sure don't miss having to store or dust them!

RollerCoasterMama

· #5 · Aug 31, 2009

Do you have a Half Price Books near you? Over the past two years I've done a MAJOR thinning of books. I grew up in a house with thousands of books (no exageration). We just DON'T ever let books go away!

I started gradually going through and filling up boxes of books I didn't like. Read once in college and just looked cool on my bookshelf. Would never read again. And hauled them over. I'm not saying you get a lot of cash back...but a few dollars extra is nice!

Some of the odd-ball things and textbooks actually sold for quite a bit!

Otherwise, yes, I'd donate.

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Beauchamp

Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 31, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by RollerCoasterMama

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Do you have a Half Price Books near you?

Yes I do! I never thought of that--thanks! I will check it out. I have donated a lot lately, and a bit of extra cash would be nice.

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daytripper75

· #7 · Aug 31, 2009

Send them away unless they are precious or you can't get them at the library!!!

flowmom

· #8 · Sep 1, 2009

Unless I have a serious plan to read, re-read, or refer to frequently, I try to get rid of it. But we have about 5 tall bookshelves of books so I have a lot more progress to make. Oh and dh is a book collector

:.

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slsurface

· #9 · Sep 1, 2009

My DH and I are mega readers. We tend to keep only those paperbacks that we *know* we will reread or want DS to read when he's older. The rest I donate to a local book shop, which has a swap section. I rarely do an even swap, I tend to donate a whole box and only pick up one or two new ones.

carmel23

· #10 · Sep 1, 2009

3

Quote:

Originally Posted by RollerCoasterMama

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Do you have a Half Price Books near you? Over the past two years I've done a MAJOR thinning of books. I grew up in a house with thousands of books (no exageration). We just DON'T ever let books go away!

I started gradually going through and filling up boxes of books I didn't like. Read once in college and just looked cool on my bookshelf. Would never read again. And hauled them over. I'm not saying you get a lot of cash back...but a few dollars extra is nice!

Some of the odd-ball things and textbooks actually sold for quite a bit!

Otherwise, yes, I'd donate.

We live near a huge used bookstore, and I have to say that selling our books there has added up to HUNDREDS of dollars... some were expensive text books, but even the paperback books all add up. We had 3 large shelves FULL of books and I've sold many of them... we're down to maybe one full book shelf. It is better, our lungs are better, and the cash is really nice.

So I'll take a box of books to sell, and then any that they don't want I take immediately to the goodwill.

Now I have to go through the kids' books. This is really hard, but they have a lot that are just kind of taking up space. I need to declutter them... maybe now

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Beauchamp

Discussion Starter · #11 · Sep 5, 2009

Well, DH was very reluctant to get rid of a bunch of our books, but I won out. We took them to Half Price Books and made $56!!!

:

Thanks for the idea, RollerCoasterMama!!

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lucyem

· #12 · Sep 5, 2009

paperbackswap.com I have sent out over 100 books and received about 70 so far.

reducereuserecycle

· #13 · Sep 5, 2009

most of my books were almost obsolete now that the internet is such a good source for info so i donate most of them. they seem like a perfect food for silverfish and a perfect home for dust.....

OkiMom

· #14 · Sep 5, 2009

It depends on the books. My girls books I read a TON. In any given week I read every single book on their book case at least 2-3 times. Im actually looking at getting more books for them since I can almost quote every book I have for them by heart.
My/DH's books it depends on the books. Our favorite we get in hardback and keep. Paperback books are only kept if they are 1) a favorite and 2) not able to get in hardback. Paperback books tear so easily and I re-read my favorite books a lot so they don't last.

mamameliaISback

· #15 · Sep 5, 2009

the girls books? i would definitely not donate permanently (lending temporarily is a diff story), and donate only if they don't like them. we have about 120-130 childrens books. yes i know that's shameful, but our collection is pretty much complete and our local libraries suck.

dh's books? engineering and physics texts, so not too bad. they don't take up much space at all.

my books? some health/gardening books (20 in total) plus medical science and chemistry texts that i left for reference.

i don't think our book collection is too hideous. clutter is only items that hold no value/use in your current life.

MOM2ANSLEY

· #16 · Sep 6, 2009

Donate. I don't typically reread books. Hang on to any favorite reference type books and true faves; then share the rest with the world. If you have enough to make it worth it you could sell them. I try to get rid of them pretty quickly. Unless Im reading a series. Than I wait and pass them on all togeather.

Savoir Faire

· #17 · Sep 6, 2009

I rarely reread a book. Do you?

I say send them out into the world...I just picked up several at a resale shop today...give those babies a new home!!!

:

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The Hidden Life

· #18 · Sep 6, 2009

I sell my books at Half-Price Books all the time. You don't get much--about 25 or 50 cents per book it seems, but it's better than nothing. Our local library is so small they resell most of what is donated to them at the annual library sale. If you just want to get rid of them, Goodwill will take just about anything.
If you have a specific kind of collection (religious books, craft books, cheesemaking, etc) then you might try searching out someone that would really appreciate and benefit from your donation.

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