How to get rid of old textbooks?

1. 73

   Hauntyposted 13 years ago

   Any creative ideas to do this?

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      thooghunposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Jog to your local University and sell them:) Not particularly creative, however that's what I'd do (and did).
      
      In terms of creativity: Make a point of doing a "burn the biology book" day and then write a sociological piece comparing it to "burn the Qu'ran" and do your best to end up on Fox. Propeller hat and all.

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   2. 0

      Brenda Durhamposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      If they're history books, send 'em to me (if they really are old).  I'd like to compare them to the new books that so-called scholars have twisted according to their own agendas....

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   3. 0

      kimberlyslyricsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      doin't you donate yours?
      
      lots of community centres, inner city schools and hubbers could benefit 
      
      no really  :`

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2. 79

   Uninvited Writerposted 13 years ago

   Put an ad up on Kijiji... post flyers at school.

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3. 70

   ChristinaScibonaposted 13 years ago

   You could donate them to a library or if you want to make money, you can sell them...textbooks.com offers very competitive prices...I use them a lot

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4. 73

   Hauntyposted 13 years ago

   @ thooghun - I've done it both ways already. That's why I was looking for something out of the ordinary this time.
   
   Anyway, the Koran burns much faster than the average textbook. It's much more easily consumed by fire. I think, it's up to everyone's preferences to interpret this.
   
   @ Brenda Durham - This is one.
   
   
   
   I was wondering if I could just throw it into the bin or if it counts as hazardous waste. Anyway, it's in Italian. If you speak Italian as spoken in the Middle Ages, I can send it.
   
   @ Uninvited Writer - Good suggestions. Thank you. There isn't much demand for these types of books, so I think they are best donated to a school or library where people can find them if they need them.
   
   @ ChristinaScibona - I didn't know about textbooks.com. It looks like a very useful site. Thank you for the top tip.

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   1. 0

      china manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      You should never burn any book - if you don't want it, find someone or somewhere to give it.

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      1. 73

         Hauntyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         It started as fantasies. I used to daydream about setting fire to random things - clothes, hair, books, government buildings... but it quickly developed into an uncontrollable desire to live out these fantasies. I used to take serotonin reuptake inhibitors, but they don't really help any more.

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      2. 80

         Aficionadaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         
         
         Sure, and if it has gotten wet and moldy/mildewy, the best thing to do is to keep it in your house, right next to your bed, so that you can breathe in the mold and mildew all night long.  After all, every book (even one written by fundies or by illiterate troglodytes) is far more important than the life of the person who has somehow inadvertently inherited it.  Right?
         
         

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         1. 73

            Hauntyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            That makes sense. I think I have even more books to get rid of than I thought.

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5. 81

   skyfireposted 13 years ago

   You can send it to project Gutenberg or similar projects that preserves old books/content.
   
   You can also donate or trade book on Bookmooch.com.

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6. 69

   vanchenposted 13 years ago

   sell them to me!

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7. 78

   schoolgirlforrealposted 13 years ago

   there was an ad on craigslist about coming and picking up books for free, if you want to dispose of them.
   
   donate them to a library or somewhere.
   
   have a yardsale?
   sell them on ebay

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8. 59

   brianzenposted 13 years ago

   Paper mache'

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9. 0

   kimberlyslyricsposted 13 years ago

   Although I have 3 hardcover books I dod razor out large square in middle pages
   
   Great safe place for money, jewellery and  ah ............................  just you do two
   
   
   
   otherwise I wish I could but cannot help
   
   have sadly never seen a book
   
   good luck
   

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10. 80

    Aficionadaposted 13 years ago

    I think it would be worthwhile for you to ask a librarian what a library does with old books that are not valuable enough to preserve in some way.  Libraries (and book stores and book publishers) do have to make choices, and that does not automatically mean that they always keep the books.  (But the one in the picture that you showed really looks beautiful, even though in a deteriorating state.  I think you should talk with a librarian or museum curator about it and any like it.)
    
    If any of your old textbooks really have deteriorated significantly, it would not be a good idea to donate them, and especially not to a nursing home - you would only be passing along whatever possible problems they might have.  But the ones that are in good condition could be shared.
    
    If you want to try to preserve them yourself, you might try something I did.  One of my favorite textbooks developed a moldy binding from improper storage.  Since I really wanted to keep it, I cleaned the mold/mildew off, page by page up close to the binding. Then I babysat it outside to allow it to dry in the sun, flipping pages frequently to expose them to air. Another method of drying that I have used (rarely) is to preheat an oven to the lowest possible temperature (around 180 deg. F.), then put a book or other paper article in it; but I always stayed with it and watched closely and flipped pages to promote even drying.  Little kids, don't try this at home!

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