6 Simple & Eco-Friendly Ways You Can Get Rid of Books You No Longer Want
This will be quite a controversial blog topic, mainly because how can I tell avid readers what to do with books they no longer want? Listen, I used to hoard my books like it was my job. But once I began my simple living journey, I realized I was holding onto books that either (a) I read and didn’t enjoy, (b) I never ended up reading, or (c) they just looked pretty on my shelves.
While nothing is wrong with keeping books that create a nice aesthetic on your shelves, hanging onto books you read and didn’t enjoy kind of defeats the purpose. So is hanging onto books you’ve had for years intending to read, but never have.
Once I learned to let go of books that I didn’t like or didn’t plan on ever reading, I made room for the new titles that I was excited for. In fact, I’ve let go of so many books, I even got rid of one bookshelf. Don’t get me wrong, though, I still have four that are 70% full.
But since reading and sharing stories is so important to me, I wanted to find creative ways to give my books a second life and in today’s post, I’m sharing six ways you too can let go of books you no longer want or need.
Here are 6 things you can do with books you no longer want
#1: Sell them on PangoBooks
I’m always looking for ways to make a bit of money off my items. Why not? It’s a cool way to reap some rewards back and make someone else happy. I do this with my clothes by selling them on either Poshmark or thredUp. But books are different. I’ve seen people sell them on Instagram or through their own websites, but I wanted to find a method that was simple and quick.
Enter PangoBooks. I literally Googled, “Is there a Poshmark for books?” and PangoBooks was one of the first three results. This app makes it super easy to sell books online. All you have to do is take a picture, scan the barcode on the back (or manually put it in) and the app will fill in all the details for you. The other only thing you need to add is the condition and price of the book.
Just like Poshmark, the app takes a cut for every book sold and sends you the shipping label when someone buys one of your books. You then pack it up, slap the shipping label on it, and drop it off at your nearest post office. It ships Media Mail and once the order is received, you receive payment and can use that money to buy books via the app or send it to a bank.
What I love about this app is that it allows me to make a little money while also knowing the book is going to someone who really wants it. A win-win if I ever saw one. It’s free to sign up and you can learn more about PangoBooks here.
#2: Drop them off at a Little Free Library
Another great option is bringing your books to a Little Free Library. This used to be hard for me since my town never had them and the nearest one was 20 minutes away. But our local boy scouts constructed five Little Free Libraries around town and it has been an enormous success.
When I worked at Barnes & Noble, we got a lot of advanced reader copies and I still have ones for books I haven’t yet read. Since you can’t resell ARCs, I often bring those to the Little Free Library when I’ve either read them or realize I never will.
But I also bring books there that maybe are a little more worn. Whenever I declutter my books, which I do now at least twice a year, I split the piles into groups. One group is for those I’m going to sell on PangoBooks and the other is often for those I’m going to bring to Little Free Library. And since one is within walking distance of my house, I love carrying them over while also looking to see what else has been dropped off.
If you’re not sure if your area has a Little Free Library, you can search for them on the organization’s website.
#3: Donate them to your local library
Ever since the Little Free Libraries popped up in my town, I don’t do this anymore, but donating your unwanted books to your local library is another great option. Mostly, you can simply drop them off in the return slot, but you want to be careful here because certain libraries are pressed for space.
My suggestion? Go inside and talk to the librarian. Tell them you have some books you want to donate and, if possible, arrive with a list of the titles. Going this extra mile will make them grateful you didn’t just dump your books on them, which is never a good thing.
You also want to make sure the books are in relevantly good condition. Don’t give your library books that are falling apart as they will just throw them away.
#4: Donate them to thrift stores
If your local library cannot take all the books, the next best thing is bringing them to Goodwill or donating them to another thrift store. Thrift stores carry a ton of stuff from clothes to furniture and household items. Your options for this may vary depending on where you live, but the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) offers free pickups across the country. Simply go to their site and schedule a pickup in your area and check that you’re giving them books.
But you can also talk to the people at a local thrift or consignment store and ask them if they need books. Just like with the library, don’t dump your books on them. And don’t give them books that are falling apart. Those, unfortunately, you may need to recycle, unless you know a bookbinder that can bring them back to life.
Whenever you’re donating books, always take the extra time to ask if they need them as this will ensure your books are going to find a new home and an excited new reader.
#5: Re-gift them to friends or family
Good stories should be shared and so if there’s a book you no longer want or need, reach out to friends and family. Let them know you have some books you want to get rid of and see if they want any of them. I did this with my friends before adding them to my PangoBooks account.
I took a picture of the stack and sent it to them, saying, “I’m getting rid of these. Do you guys want any of them?” I gave away five of them and knew they’d be read and cared for.
So before you do any of the above steps, check to see if any friends or family might be interested in any of the titles you’re decluttering. This way you can talk about it later once they’ve read it themselves.
#6: Sell them to a used bookstore
The Barnes & Noble I worked at had a used book section that once a month did a buyback for certain subjects. If you have a local used bookstore, reach out to them and see if they’re buying anything. Even if they don’t advertise it, they may tell you to give them a list and they’ll let you know.
By selling your books to a used bookstore, you may receive cash in exchange or store credit. Either way, it’s a win-win since you know your old books will find new readers and you get some new books at the same time.
To repeat what I’ve already said, don’t sell books that are falling apart, and don’t just dump everything in the store. When in doubt, check with the workers to ensure they need the subjects you have. This might be the start of a great partnership and you might sell them more books in the future. Another win-win.
I know it’s hard to say goodbye to books, especially those you enjoyed, but mostly, these steps are great to follow for books you didn’t like or no longer want. They’re even better for books you’ve been holding onto and never plan on reading.
It was hard for me at the beginning, but I knew if I really wanted to read a book I was getting rid of, I could loan it out from my library or borrow it from someone I know. The great thing about books is that you can always find them again and when you take the time to declutter your current stash, you can make room for the new books you’re actually excited to read.
Have you ever decluttered your books? What’s the hardest thing about letting go of books? Will you try any of these methods?
