# How do I get rid of LOTS of books? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 20, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150 "2004-02-20T04:01:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150/1 "2004-02-20T04:01:54Z")
Heres the deal, I have about 100+ assorted textbooks collected over the years, most of which are quite useless. Stuff like Computer textbooks from 30 years ago. I know I can always thrown them away but it always seemed a waste of paper to me. Is there anything more productive I can do to get rid of them? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150/2 "2004-02-20T04:08:42Z")
Do a yard sale type thing and offer them free to anyone who wants them. Some old textbooks are actually useful and/or interesting. You might be surprised. Julie ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150/3 "2004-02-20T04:08:52Z")
Would they be of any use in the reference section of your local library if you were to donate them? Does your area allow for the recycling of books in any way? I mean, they are paper…I would imagine some sort of recycling would be worth it. Worst case senario: Sell 'em on eBay for a few bucks. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150/4 "2004-02-20T04:22:06Z")
[Furniture](http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/tt/2004/feb11/books.html)? ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150/5 "2004-02-20T04:28:43Z")
A used bookstore might want 'em. Call ahead before you lug them down there, though. ---
**Author:** ![teemingONE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@teemingONE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teemingONE)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150/6 "2004-02-20T04:44:05Z")
Burn them. Literature makes the best fire. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150/7 "2004-02-20T05:23:58Z")
If they’re still semi-current (and keep in mind, depending on the professor and how lazy they are, “current” might be 1974), I’d at least make the attempt to sell them on Ebay/Half/Amazon and get some cash for em. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150/8 "2004-02-20T05:50:27Z")
Not ALL of them are 30 years old. Most of them are the rather generic, crappy Learn Java/Database/.NET/Web design in 21 days type books from about 3 - 5 years ago. I don’t really relish making a list of all 100 of them just so I can post them on ebay, is there any place where I can just dump them for a bit of cash? ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150/9 "2004-02-20T06:47:02Z")
Generic textbooks on computer topics that are already out of date? Your library will almost certainly not want them–even my library (and it’s a sad one) doesn’t accept that kind of thing. A prison might. A used bookstore probably won’t, but you could call around and ask. What you likely have there is a large pile of nearly-useless paper. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150/10 "2004-02-20T07:12:30Z")
I’m not sure if this exists everywhere, but my local library takes donations for its huge warehouse sale, whose proceeds benefit the library. I’m pretty sure you can donate the whole lot, and maybe even get a tax deduction for your trouble. Just swing by your library and ask about it. ---
**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150/11 "2004-02-20T07:23:27Z")
You could try… [www.bookcrossing.com](http://www.bookcrossing.com) ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150/12 "2004-02-20T07:25:19Z")
Did you design the thread title to make Dopers wince? Give them away, if you can’t sell them. Just leave them in a box marked “free” at the bottom of your driveway (on a non-rainy day). ---
**Author:** ![Starguard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Starguard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starguard)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150/13 "2004-02-20T07:45:28Z")
Try selling them on eBay ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150/14 "2004-02-20T14:05:02Z")
\*\*1. \*\*Drill a couple of small holes in the cover of the books. **2** Plant a seed or seedling of a tree in the hole. **3** Might have to add a pinch of seed starter dirt. ( very light weight. Potting soil is too heavy for seeds.) **4** Water as usual. In spring, have a curb side plant sale. Then the plants and book can be planted into the ground where they decompose on their own over time. (glossy paged books or mags won’t work.) It is a nice reusuable alternative to the garbage bin. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150/15 "2004-02-20T14:18:24Z")
I moved about three years ago. I had to get rid of over a thousand books. A local library took quite a few, but not all > [@Shalmanese](#): > > Heres the deal, I have about 100+ assorted textbooks collected over the years, most of which are quite useless. Stuff like Computer textbooks from 30 years ago. I know I can always thrown them away but it always seemed a waste of paper to me. Is there anything more productive I can do to get rid of them? The stuff my library wouldn’t take was exactly that kind of stuff. Obsolete textbooks and so on. There’s pretty much nothing you can do with that. Do you have a fireplace? They might make great kindling. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-lots-of-books/230150/16 "2004-02-20T23:11:19Z")
See if there is an AAUW (American Association of University Women) bookdrop anywhere in your town. That’s what I do with most of my “read-once” books. (Personal preference: I don’t really like dealing withe used bookstores. I’d rather just give them away. But check Ebay for prices on any you think may be useful. I recently found out that a knitting book I was going to donate was going for $50 or $60 on Ebay! I traded it to another knitter for a cone of lace-weight wool!)