What to do with books

[nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut]

Does anyone have any suggestions for what to do with a load of children's books? Charity shops won't take books as they are swamped with them, I have put them up for free on Facebook but no takers and it feels wrong to bin books.

They're mostly in decent condition, some like new and some first editions or ones that are out of print so I don't want to just chuck them but not sure where else they might be wanted. Any suggestions.

Offer them to local playgroups or schools. Community centres/churches etc that have youth groups.

Or your local library.

Some might sell on a site like Momox. Or refuges, church playgroups, that sort of thing. Or put them out with a sign saying free, please help yourself.

Paediatric outpatient department in hospitals always glad of toys and books.

I can't believe no charity shops anywhere would not take them. How many did you try?

If they are picture books, or non-fiction, a nursery would probably welcome them.

Ask local Brownies/Cubs etc if they'd like some boxes of books to give out for free. Local schools for their libraries or just to give away. Our charity shops are desperate for new looking children's books and the local foodbank gives them out too.

It January charity shops are completly flooded with donations especially with books and kids toys. Give it a month and try again, a small amount donated often will be better than trying to offload a large cardboard box full of books in one go.

Put them outside the school gate at home time in a box saying free? Obviously wait around a bit to be able to take them home again if they don’t get taken.

My sister (bizarrely)took books into her local library and put them on shelves like some kind of weird reverse thief.

Nothing helpful to add but I read this as boobs and it made me smile

Schools, our local nature reserve has a bookshop, Oxfam, some places buy books in bulk, all your local library...

National trust places sell second hand book you could donate them there.

Sell them to music magpie or similar to be resold. I buy lots of books online secondhand (and would be very willing to take a secondhand collection from someone local offering them for free!)

Didn't think of hospitals but not sure how I would even go about asking as you can't just walk in atm. Schools same issue. You can't just walk in and would look a right weirdo just standing outside the gate with a boot full of books offering to random kids.

There's only 3 charity shops anywhere near me and all have said they will not accept any books or dvds.

Could try library. Waiting a month is not an option, I'm literally using them as a roundabout, I can't even pull the curtains without stepping over them.

Not sure where our food bank is, will have to Google. Thanks for all suggestions, will look into some of them.

Start a little phone box library? There’s few a lovely little honesty box library in the posh neighbourhood near my neighbourhood – people repurpose little cabinets, paint them and put books in then put them at the end of their driveway. In my actual neighbourhood people just put them in bags for life on the front wall with a “please take” post it

Leave them at a book swap shop type place. Check on www.bookcrossing.com/ if there is one near you. I'm sure there are many more type of swapping books places recorded online somewhere. There's a few in Telephone boxes in small towns near me.

Lol you don't need to hand around outside the school gates! Pretty sure if you take them to the main reception at a local primary school, they would be happy to accept them. If it's going out of your way, you could always phone up first?

I'm picturing their faces if I turned up in reception with them! There's about 60 😂 I'd be done for littering!

Put them in a box outside your home saying please help yourself..? Have you a local babybank?

You can't get to reception anyway. There's massive front gates that are always shut except at drop off and kick out.

Around here they'd come back in via the window possibly accompanied by a brick. Don't know about a baby bank? They more aged 8 to 12 do you think they'd still accept?

I'm seriously considering the reverse library theft.

Can you email the local schools and see if you can drop some off? Our school is always keen on donated books.

Try Ziffit?

In a box outside your house.
My sister put books and about 200 DVDs outside her gate with a sign saying Free please help yourself and they were gone in 2 days.

Try your local big supermarkets - ours have charity book sales (Sainsbury’s) and a kids free book stall (Morrison’s).
Also doctors/ dentists waiting room