Disposition of Used Books

[BOSSHOG]

My wife and I read a lot of books and we usually trade them in at the used bookstore. I have taken some up to the local library but I'm wondering if anyone has anyother ideas on how to dispose of used books. Charitable givings? And to whom? The USO? Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Very Much and Merry Christmas to all!!

[babylonsister]

1. You might want to check out a local Goodwill or thrift shop. They

have been known to sell used books cheap.

:hi:

[BOSSHOG]

4. Thanks Sis

[azmouse]

2. Check out retirement homes in your area.

[BOSSHOG]

6. Thanks, and I was also thinking about the local hospital

[InternalDialogue]

19. I'll second the hospital idea.

The last time I was visiting a local hospital for more than a short time, I spent quite a while waiting in a visitor's lounge. Their expansive shelves held only a few dozen books, mostly condensed versions (Reader's Digest?) of popular recent books and classics. I found them nearly unreadable and wished dearly for some "real" books to just grab and dig into.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. USED books?

Last time I counted, including paperbacks, I had 3,400+ books. on top of that, I routinely take trips to the local VA hospital to drop off pocketbooks. There is no such thing as a "used" book. there are good books, bad books and romance novels which deserve a fate worse than cheney.

[BOSSHOG]

7. Pre-owned? Pre-read??

And the VA is a good idea cause I always keep military stuff (fiction and non) in my reading rotation. Thank you.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

8. Not "used," only "read"

Right?

That's a nice take on the situation. I get free books from my publisher - HarperCollins - and they all end up at our library after they've lived and been enjoyed here. It's a great deal for me and the library, and my publisher is happy. Not many people know that free books are a standard part of a publishing contract. First time I saw that, I said to my agent, "Hell, I'd let them have this manuscript in exchange for the books. They can keep the money."

"Don't you ever say that again!" she snarled, ever the literary agent.........................

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. Check local hospitals

Very often, they maintain libraries, which are most welcome to visitors with ill loved ones.

Nursing homes. Libraries.

I give all mine to our library system. There's a tax writeoff there, which I've never taken.

Merry Christmas to you................

[BOSSHOG]

10. Thanks very much

sometimes I search too hard for a solution when its staring me right in the face; or located in a big building right down the highway.

[RainDog]

9. depending on the subject

you can also donate books to your local high school libraries. libraries in your area of the country were devastated after Katrina.

[BOSSHOG]

12. Another awesome suggestion. Thanks

I think about 100% of our library would be accepted by a HS libary, even in a very red county.

[Donnachaidh]

11. Nursing homes!

All of those folks have reading skills, and would probably enjoy the heck out of reading. It will also aid the older folks to keep those brain cells firing. Seriously consider your local homes.

[BOSSHOG]

13. I greatly appreciate all these great suggestions

I will make like Santa Claus around town. My wife and I both read all the time and seldom do we read the same books so we get quite a pile in a short period of time. Thanks Again!!

[Donnachaidh]

17. I've always passed on books to my elderly friends and neighbors

It was hilarious one year when two older ladies almost got into a fistfight over a hardcover copy of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I had to pick (eeny meeny pick) as to who got it first, and made them PROMISE to pass it on to the loser. Hilarious to see two 85 year old ladies getting ready to throw down over a book they both wanted to read.

It gave me more of an incentive to find other titles they would like LOL!

[Love Bug]

14. Books for soldiers?

http://booksforsoldiers.com/index.php

[BOSSHOG]

15. Many Thanks!!

[Richardo]

16. Local dialysis units

Dialysis patients have to lay there for hours at a time.

[Libertyfirst]

18. Youth correctional facilities and prisons. n/t

[LWolf]

20. Try this:

http://www.bookcrossing.com/

[Lydia Leftcoast]

21. If it's a matter of getting rid of one book at a time, I take it to one of the

local coffeeshops that has an "exchange shelf." Sometimes I find something I want to take back in return. :-)

[HelenWheels]

22. we have a book exchange at our church

There are a couple of shelves where you can leave or take a book, it works quite well. We also have a book sale once a year - .50 for paperbacks and $1 for hardcovers.

My cousin leaves her books in plastic bags at campsites when they're done camping so she doesn't have to haul them home.