# What do I do with an outdated set of encyclopedias **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 7, 2005, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881 "2005-02-07T22:30:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/21 "2005-02-08T14:54:21Z")
:🥽: Throw books _away_? You may as well sell me into slavery, cause that’s what it’s like! ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/22 "2005-02-08T16:35:56Z")
Have you considered calling a women’s shelter where they take in abused women and their children and asking them if they could use them? ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/23 "2005-02-08T16:53:55Z")
As a kid, I spent many happy hours reading the encylopeia. I’d pick up volume at random, open it at random, and start reading. It made me a killer Jepardy player, but the other kids did look at me kind of funny… ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/24 "2005-02-08T16:58:14Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > As a kid, I spent many happy hours reading the encylopeia. I’d pick up volume at random, open it at random, and start reading. It made me a killer Jepardy player, but the other kids did look at me kind of funny… I did this, too, and I imagine quite a few Dopers did. I got made fun of a lot. :mad: For being smart! ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/25 "2005-02-08T17:06:56Z")
Keep them as a time capsule. Your grandkids can open them up and marvel at how things used to be. I have an old “Lincoln Library”, sort of a one volume encyclopedia from the 30’s, and it’s fun to “go back in time” now and then. ---
**Author:** ![trupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trupa)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/26 "2005-02-08T17:06:57Z")
This is really making me want to get a not to old used set for trupa Junior. You can’t lounge on the couch reading a computer while munching oreos on a rainy saturday afternoon, like you can with a ramdomly selected volume of the encyclopedia. I bet I can get one not too expensive now… -trupa _ps: yes, yes, me too… I used to read them for entertainment as a kid, and got thouroughly ostracised as a result. Seems like a doper rite of passage, doesn’t it?_ ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/27 "2005-02-08T17:23:10Z")
Here’s a suggestion: Contact your local school district. Ask for names of middle or upper elementary school teachers with gifted students who are from lower-income families. Contact teacher; establish contact with family through teacher; offer encyclopedias to kid. Probably 75-85% of the content of the typical 20-year-old encyclopedia is still accurate, and the kid, hungry for knowledge, will **love** having his own set. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/28 "2005-02-08T17:32:42Z")
There are many charities out there that would love to take any old reference books off your hands. They ship them overseas to impoverished countries or countries with impoverished schools. The books provide the students with reference material and English language material to practice. I believe South Africa is one of the targets, as they have many schools for black African students that are still woefully underfunded. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/29 "2005-02-08T17:59:47Z")
Personally, I woudn’t throw it out, as it will get more interesting as it ages. Right now, it is too new to be old, and too old to be new. Hope you are young, or have kids, or they have kids who can eventually appreciate it. On the other hand, in 20 years the same set may be available on a CD anyway, and take up less space. No point in saving Natl Geographics now, for this reason. I wouldn’t part with my 1950’s Comptons for any price, but luckily I have the space. And somewhere in the basement I think I have a 2-volume Encyclopedia ca. 1900 – boy is it fascinating to look through! Only 8 planets in the solar system. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/30 "2005-02-08T18:08:50Z")
With gule, nails, hardwaqre & a little ingenuity, you can convert them into fun & funky end tables. ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/31 "2005-02-08T18:09:32Z")
I have a set of Colliers, which my wife insisted I keep, from 1967. Then it looks as though each year they put out a yearbook as an addition to the set ending in 1979. I wouldn’t dream of throwing them out now. They’re fun to brouse through once in awhile plus they happen to be the most attractive part of my bookcase. ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/32 "2005-02-08T18:17:15Z")
> [@Rooves](#): > > I have a set of Colliers, which my wife insisted I keep, from 1967. Then it looks as though each year they put out a yearbook as an addition to the set ending in 1979. > > I wouldn’t dream of throwing them out now. They’re fun to brouse through once in awhile plus they happen to be the most attractive part of my bookcase. I have to add…I actually used the encyclopedias (size) as a measurement when built the bookshelves because I specifically wanted them to fit perfectly into the bookcase. The other thing: I just opened the cover of one of the books to check the publishing date and found an old B&W 8x10 photograph of my wifes brother (I think) in action during a highschool football game. All those years it’s been sitting in there. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/33 "2005-02-08T19:00:38Z")
This thread is better suited for [**In My Humble Opinion**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?f=12). I’ll move it for you. **Cajun Man** for the SDMB ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/34 "2005-02-08T19:20:43Z")
Thank you, thank you, thank you. (Sincerely) I am keeping the set. I cannot bear to throw them out or give them away or tear them up to do other things with. I am sorry I even vaguely considered anything like that. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/35 "2005-02-08T20:14:53Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Contact your local school district. Ask for names of middle or upper elementary school teachers with gifted students who are from lower-income families. Contact teacher; establish contact with family through teacher; offer encyclopedias to kid. Probably 75-85% of the content of the typical 20-year-old encyclopedia is still accurate, and the kid, hungry for knowledge, will **love** having his own set. I LOVE this idea. If you have to get rid of it, this is the best way – I’m glad you are going to keep it. Somehow, the idea of reading the encyclopedia for pleasure just doesn’t seem translate to reading it online. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/36 "2005-02-08T20:52:22Z")
(I know the OP has decided to keep and not tamper with the encyclopedias… but…) How could would it be to turn 'em into [ukuleles?](http://www.baymoon.com/~ukulelebooks/) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/37 "2005-02-08T21:10:24Z")
Heh. I spent many, many hours reading our _World Book_ and _Funk & Wagnall’s_ sets (plus yearbooks and science annuals) in my childhood, teens and still whenever I get bored and have read everything on the bookshelf at least once. It’s kind of fun to look at them like old friends; you KNOW what’s in every single volume, but it’s still cool to open them up and read the pages, knowing what’s next, what’s over here, oh wait! I don’t remember that part…interesting… Getting lost in an encyclopedia is fun! And yes, I got strange looks, too. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/38 "2005-02-08T21:23:01Z")
Encyclopedias make great bathroom books when you are in the commode mode. Short, interesting articles are the perfect complement to a job well done. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/39 "2005-02-08T21:26:05Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > I LOVE this idea. If you have to get rid of it, this is the best way – I’m glad you are going to keep it. > > Somehow, the idea of reading the encyclopedia for pleasure just doesn’t seem translate to reading it online. I loved the suggestion, too. If I were to get rid of them, this is the route I’d take. Just a minute ago, I learned that our neighbors have a 1932 set of encyclopedias of some kind. The wife wanted to toss 'em, the husband refused - adamantly. I can see why. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881/40 "2005-02-08T21:31:52Z")
**BrotherCadfael** (see previous post) and I were referring to **Polycarp** ’s recommendation in Post #27. Sorry, but it wasn’t duplicated when I quoted the Brother’s post. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-an-outdated-set-of-encyclopedias/288881.md?page=3)