Are you ready to pare down your library?
If so, what’s your plan for making decisions and disposing of the books you no longer want? Many of us have more books than we need because we just keep them for years. If you’re ready to lighten your load, click on the link for ideas to guide you.
If you’re genuinely going to read a book again, of course keep it!
If a book has deep personal meaning you might keep it or give to someone who would value it. (Begin to gift meaningful items now instead of later.)
If you need the book for a reference (not just “I might need to look at this someday”), then keep it…but remember that the smart phone in your pocket has more reference resources than any book could offer.
Books that you enjoyed but aren’t going to read again? Books that you bought or received as gifts but never read, and don’t intend to read? Let them go!
Books that you’ve had for years and “always wanted to read” but haven’t? Considering letting them go, knowing that you have the library and Amazon at your fingertips.
And books you think have real value? Chances are, they don’t. Just because it’s old doesn’t mean it has value. Is it out of print? Is it first edition and/or signed? AND is it in great shape? Then MAYBE there is value. People tend to overestimate the value of their books, and they rarely hold value if they haven’t been out of print. (I’ve got a book guy who can help if you think you have something special.)
Ideas for disposing of books:
Some libraries take them. Don’t forget tiny neighborhood libraries!
Do you have a literacy-related nonprofit in your area? Indy Reads in Indianapolis takes donated books for their bookstore, which supports their mission.
Goodwill, Salvation Army or other thrift stores (check donation guidelines)
Half Priced Books (They’ll pay pennies but hey, it’s better than nothing if you have the time to wait while they sort through your donation.)
Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and NextDoor – We downsized lots of books in our last two moves; once we put them on Craigslist for free and they were gone in a flash, and another time we priced them very cheaply (I’m talking something like $25 for 8 boxes). We were just glad someone came and took all those boxes out of our space!
Your local Buy Nothing network