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First, let me ask for your grace...my bookcase is GNARLY right now. But I think that may have been the impetus for this post. I've been at my computer a lot lately editing photos, and every now and again, I look to the left at the big gross bookcase that I've been meaning to transform FOREVER. I took a close look at it and realized that the bookcase wouldn't really survive what I had in mind. It's made of pressboard and I've abused it pretty well over the years.
Having said all that, I've been thinking about getting an armoire lately so that I could hide away keepsakes and photography equipment. My little house just doesn't have the storage space that I need and I don't really want to keep my equipment out in the open. So, that means I need a plan for all my books.
A while back, I bought a Kindle and I'm IN LOVE with it...it will allow me to read more efficiently and I won't have to store books. I could also just hit the library more often, but that's water under the bridge. : )
So, here's where I need your advice. Do you keep books that you don't really plan to read again? Should I donate them, try to sell them on craigslist or another second hand shop, make a DIY project out of them, use them as kindling in my non-existent fireplace?
Having said all that, I've been thinking about getting an armoire lately so that I could hide away keepsakes and photography equipment. My little house just doesn't have the storage space that I need and I don't really want to keep my equipment out in the open. So, that means I need a plan for all my books.
A while back, I bought a Kindle and I'm IN LOVE with it...it will allow me to read more efficiently and I won't have to store books. I could also just hit the library more often, but that's water under the bridge. : )
So, here's where I need your advice. Do you keep books that you don't really plan to read again? Should I donate them, try to sell them on craigslist or another second hand shop, make a DIY project out of them, use them as kindling in my non-existent fireplace?
I just got an email today saying that if I donate books to one of the local library branches, I'll get 25% off of Extreme Fitness Bootcamp. Yaaaaaah, that's totally not gonna happen. I can't even joke about doing that one because I know blogland will hear me laughing!
14 comments:
I only keep books I don't plan on reading again if they are "pretty" on the shelf. Otherwise - off to the library they go! :)
If it's a book I'm not going to read again, but I want someone else to read, I will give it to them or I may keep it to loan out to people.
Oh, I am definitely guilty of keeping books. I read a TON of books for my job, and I keep them around for reference material in case I want to use something later. But when it comes to fiction or fun reading, I'm more likely to get it from the library. I love books, though, and I think if they're pretty, they make a great decor item :-)
Cleaning out the bookcases in the office is on the to do list for this week. I am going to be donating them to one of my bunco ladies who runs a little book store in conjunction with our local library. She will give me a tax donation receipt. Um, why are all of the books turned around? You are so silly!!!! Let me know if you want me to come get the books for Sharon, I can meet you half way and I will see her on the 21st.
I have such trouble letting books go, I just hate to do it! My boyfriend is the same way so it was a no-brainer that we turned a spare bedroom of the house into a library. Granted, we still have books in every other room of the house except the laundry room and bathrooms. I'm more likely to lend out or give books to friends rather than sell, toss or donate.
Would some of them be appropriate for Paperback Swap or one of the other services out there?
i use paperbackswap.com and half.ebay.com to get rid of paperbacks. i only keep hardcover that i will read again and again...i just go the ipad and was thinking the same thing! a lot of mine are more goodwill than anything unfortunately...hey! maybe do a give-a-way on your blog and see who wants some of the books!
I say donate them. If they're appropriate, I'm sure a local school would be happy to take them off your hands. If not, I say goodwill or salvation army the crap out of them. The effort of reselling them probably isn't worth the few bucks per book you'll get. Keep the ones you'll read again, want to pass along, have attachments to, etc. I'm all for encouraging good karma by donating used items.
Hey! Donate them to Children's Hospital of Orange County. Can you tell me if there's anything a teen would like? We LOVE those. And also, some general reading stuff for parents is ALWAYS welcome. Email me at pdejong@choc.org and let's coordinate!
I did a major book de-clutter a couple of years ago and decided only to keep books that I LOVED from now on. Everything else goes to bookmooch (www.bookmooch.com).
Sorry to link in your comments but I just wrote about it a few weeks ago. Post is here:
http://www.hollywoodhousewife.com/2010/03/two-bestsellers-one-i-liked-one-i-didnt-also-bookmooch.html
Girl, I know you've seen my bookcase in my living room. I can't seem to get rid of ANY of the books I own. Here's what I would do if my bed were high enough off the ground. I'd get those rectangular plastic storage bins from target, and store all the unpretty books in those, under your bed. Then again, that would mean you have to clean out all the stuff under your bed (:
This might sound silly, but if you store the books with the pages showing instead of the titles, I'd say it's a safe bet that you're not keeping them for reading - 'cause you don't know what's what. It's a safe bet that they're probably not being touched. The library is my favorite donation place.
And btw, your last post = hysterical! I love that title.
I think you know your own answer...it would be better to shed yourself of the books.
Ask yourself why you feel the need to hold onto something you know you don't/won't use. You need to address the reasons before just clearing, or it happens all over again.
Make a "boundary" of what you will keep so you don't have the problem creep up again in the future. Your boundary is what you do to set a limit. Whether it is 10 books to reference, 4 books to "read soon", 5 books that have sentimental value...once you set the limit you don't have as much difficulty keeping it up in the future!
yea for books! if you haven't yet- check out PaperbackSwap.com - it's my fave site -- and very green!
~Katie B.
I use goodreads.com I think its like paperbackswap. Basically if someone wants your book, they pay the shipping, you print the label and send it off. And after you send off 10 books, goodreads pays for you to have a book shipped to you!
Oh, and Im a new follower :) I found you through that whole blog sugar thing
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