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thisbenzingring ,

I work with librarians and I have heard them say that sometimes an old worn out book is just a bunch of paper. Would you keep a bunch of paper lying around? Librarians throw out a lot of books.

jerrimu ,

Give them away.

Very_Bad_Janet ,

I have:

  • Sold books to used bookstores
  • Sold books online (one at a time, so only ones that could earn a lot)
  • Sold books in lots on Craigslist and in local groups
  • Donated them to my local library and Salvation Army
  • Given them to my kids' school
  • Given them to friends (after inquiring about their interest in the specific titles or authors)
  • Left them.in a box outside labeled "Free Please Take"
  • Placed them.in the free book thingy near my home where neighbors leave or take books (it looks sort of like an old time call box except with shelves and a glass door on top)
  • Left them at hostels while traveling
HubertManne ,

Our train station has a straight up wood bookshelf for the take a book, leave a book thing. There should be a whole library sized one at every airport considering some of the delays.

Opacity9850 ,

In our country we have these peddlers who buy papers, books, metal items for cheap and then they resell them to recycle then ultimately or for other uses.

Xtallll ,
@Xtallll@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

Leave them on the table in a coffee shop, one or two at a time.

andrewrgross ,

In Jewish tradition, the answer is burial.

Personally, I think immolation – burning – is an elegant way of returning something to the world without taking space or requiring much effort. I know people have an aversion to burning books, bit I think the difference is similar to that difference between burying a loved one after they pass and burying an enemy alive.

If your city offers industrial composting, I’d compost your books.

Lastly, you can do any of these, including throwing books in the trash with a statement of gratitude. Mari Kondo advises that we thank or belongings for their service and then throw them in the trash.

ABCDE ,

None of those seem like respectful uses of books.

Alto ,
@Alto@kbin.social avatar

Yeah when I burned Ethan Frome it was specifically to be disrespectful

FaceDeer ,
@FaceDeer@kbin.social avatar

Since these are inanimate objects that are incapable of comprehending respect or disrespect by themselves, this meaning is imposed solely by the humans involved in this process.

A common analogous situation is the burning of American flags. Lots of Americans freak out over it, the official "Flag Code" says burning is actually the respectful way to dispose of them, and most non-Americans just roll their eyes over the whole kerfuffle.

That said, I have a bunch of books I'd like to get rid of and that I know there'd be no demand for and I've got them stashed away because I know I'm going to have soooo much trouble actually physically dropping them into the recycler. Humans are irrational and superstitious, even when we realize that we're irrational and superstitious.

FullOfBallooons ,

Throwing them into a big box marked “FREE” and putting that outside on the curb is probably the least amount of effort.

Other than that, donating them, selling them to a second hand bookstore, or finding a local Little Free Library and adding to their collection is your best bet.

ShakeThatYam ,
@ShakeThatYam@lemmy.world avatar

Donate to library or school if in decent condition. Recycle if not.

Widowmaker_Best_Girl ,

I worked for a library. Most books we got donated, even if they were in good condition would just get pitched. We just had no need for them.

bhmnscmm ,
@bhmnscmm@lemmy.world avatar

I think that’s dependent on the library. The few libraries I’m familiar with are always happy to accept donated books and put them in circulation (as long as they’re in good condition).

FearTheCron ,

It probably also depends on the book. I have tons of outdated books on obscure topics within engineering, science, and computing. I doubt anyone would check out my 1995 book on the Vi text editor from a library. Although, if I’m lucky, perhaps it could be a collectors item some day. In reality, I’m probably going to just say “thank you for helping me so many years ago” and respectfully recycle the book.

bhmnscmm ,
@bhmnscmm@lemmy.world avatar

That’s probably true, I would expect libraries not be very interested in obsolete technical books.

However, I image many of the books people have don’t match that description. And in my experience libraries (especially school libraries) are happy to take them.

FearTheCron ,

I guess the libraries and schools can make the decision and throw out things they don’t find useful.

HeyThisIsntTheYMCA ,
@HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world avatar

We accepted the bad juju and burned the nazi apologia we found in my grandmother’s abusive husband’s (that’s as close as I’m willing to admit being related to that shit) library, but other than that if you want the least effort just drop off a bag of books on the library’s doorstep in the middle of the night with a fiver and a note apologizing.

Tangent5280 ,

That image is pretty funny - dropping off books like an unwanted newborn on the church steps, tearfully saying goodbye, telling the books that the nice people inside will take better care of them than you ever could…

Todd_cross ,

Please do not drop books off at a library without asking. It’s really annoying.

HeyThisIsntTheYMCA ,
@HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world avatar

They weren’t asking for the most responsible way to get rid of books, they were asking for the easiest way.

agilob , (edited )
@agilob@programming.dev avatar

I sell on eBay for the price of postage

Noxvento ,
@Noxvento@lemmy.world avatar

Based on Fahrenheit 451: Call your local Firefighter.

wrenn ,
@wrenn@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

Some libraries take book donations (either for adding to the collection, or for book sales), little free libraries (you can find local ones here), ‘Friends of the Library’ will sell them and donate the proceeds to the library, second hand book shops, thrift shops, charity shops, and of course there’s always throwing them out.

friend_of_satan ,

deleted_by_author

    •
    wrenn ,
    @wrenn@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

    I like to cite my sources :)

    MaxVoltage ,
    @MaxVoltage@lemmy.world avatar

    fire

    blanketswithsmallpox ,
    @blanketswithsmallpox@kbin.social avatar

    Was about to say. Burn them. They make great fire starter. Arguably one of the densest and best. I'd love the thought as an author to have my words burned away for someone's enjoyment too.

    sprl ,

    Tiny libraries, second hand books, organisations, maybe even art schools.

    Nemo ,

    Put them in Little Free Libraries, post them on your local Buy Nothing group, or sell them

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