But another way to offload your unwanted books is to look in the Yellow Pages or online to see if there’s a used-book store in your area. The one in my neck of the woods–C&W Used Books in Northern Virginia–will buy books, CDs, DVDs, maybe even videos, all depending on what their stock needs are at that time. They will give you either store credit or (a little less) cash. Because one of their stores is in a convenient shopping hub, it’s not a big deal for me to throw some books in the car and make a stop over there when I’m doing other shopping. If they take them, terrific; if not, then I donate them to the Friends of the Library group for their book sale. If the stuff doesn’t sell at their book sale, there are always ‘bulk dealers’ who come and buy the lot for shipping elsewhere. My library, at least, doesn’t get “stuck” holding a bunch of books it seems nobody wants.

As for ditching a book midway, I think I’ve done this maybe just twice in my life. You never know where that lightbulb moment will go off in a book–everything could tie very nicely together in the 3rd quarter. Also, some books that I thought were so boring at the start, turns out I was just not ready for them at that time. The next year, I pick up the tossed-aside book and realize that it’s a gem. It’s all about timing for me.

The books I own that I really like, I keep in the guestroom so others can get a taste of them (but I make them leave them there and get them from their own public libraries! I can’t stand lending and not getting them returned!)

There are a lot of good books out there. I try not to waste my time with them anymore. I have many reasons I feel obligated to finish a book (see Reclaim Reading Time By Giving Up) but I really try not to anymore.

This can be a way of not owning the books (I buy 1-2 books a year) but having a recorded memory about each book.

I had a garage sale just for books and only 3 people came. One of them was a dealer. I offered her the rest of the garageful for $200. She said because of health problems, unemployment, etc., she could only afford $100. With that, I said if she took them all she could have them for free. Win/win. It was hard letting go of these books for free after I’d spent so much money on them, but live and learn.

I will always check a book out of the library first and as a result I buy very few books and those that I do buy I get used. I love used books for vacations, don’t have to worry about losing a library book, and I will leave it at the resort (if they have a library) when done.

Just a suggestion, if the books smell bad, are growing mold, and severly damaged and unsueable consider throwing away or recycling before donating

I just have two questions for you before you start scanning your ebay books.

1. Why not buy it as an ebook to begin with, assuming it’s available? rather than spending time doing all that.

2. Does it seem less clutter to you if it’s electronic? I’d say just because you can store a ton of ebooks in a small space doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a wise use of memory. It’s still a good idea not to horde ebooks just because you can.

1. Important reference materials.
2. Ones I have highlighted and written notes in.
3. Ones I still feel I’ll read in the next few months.

All the rest go, especially those that I can easily get from the library.

If I don’t like a book, often it’s because my attention span is limited from stress or exhaustion, or because the book is simply a “slow start”. If it’s still dull and dense after three tries, it goes to the Salvation Army store.