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.

@stuntbubbles

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

Oh I love this idea.

OP, you could try doctor's surgeries too

Global Education Trust charity shop will take them.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46511256

Or try a charity shop that only sells books. search for 'charity book shop near me'.

If you contact a school someone from the PTA might be happy to come and collect them from you.

our local tip (sorry, recycling centre) has a book bank now. I take ours there mostly, or pass to younger cousins.

If you were in Brum i’d have em 🤣

Are there any youth clubs nearby? They’d be grateful for the donation

The ones in good condition, have you checked ziffit or webuybooks etc?

I'd try to sell some on Ziffit then phone local primaries to see if they want any.

Oxfam have book only charity shops. Give their office a call for more info.

FB Marketplace offering for free on local groups?
Olio app (give stuff and food away for free - people collect from you)
Freecycle
National Trust properties often have secondhand book shop.
Charity shops - I found my nearest one wasn't accepting donations in early Jan but is now.
Our local tip has a recycling bin for books, toys etc - think it's British Heart Foundation?

Would put on a local
Facebook group (not marketplace) and am
Sure a teacher etc will see it and then can sort collection. I do this for puzzles/toys/books and they get picked up quickly. Just make sure you state they are free to a good home.

If you’re in Leeds I’ll take them! Our school library is desperate for good condition books.

In all seriousness phone your closest school/nursery they’d probably love to take them off your hands.

Do you have a local community library? We have little sheds popping up all over with books in, the general rule is take a book, leave a book, but you can just leave/just take too. Ours are always full and usually the house next door to it is the keeper of the library, or it has a note on it with address, so if its full you can drop to the address and they will refill when getting low.

Funnily enough I started a thread on this the other day but in the opposite position! I was looking for cheap(er) books! I don’t have time to be wandering around charity shops and although I did buy some from a website someone directed me to, the books that arrived were in a disgusting condition so I haven’t kept them.

I’ve looked on Facebook but maybe people have got fed up.

My child is still very young and reading That’s Not My and pop up books and so on and £6.99 for something that takes about ninety seconds to read stings … but books are important.

I got rid of two big bags of children's books (in good condition) to a local primary school.

I try to give books to hospitals too, but the Friends of my local once stopped taking donations during the pandemic, and hadn't resumed. And I've not found another recipient there

Some supermarkets have a second hand booksale to raise funds for their recognised charity. I know several of our local tescos do it.

You don't have to physically go somewhere to see if they would want donated books. I would just call any charity shops locally you've not tried, school, playgroup or schools etc. If it's really a no then I'd use something like ziffit and recycle anything else, or leave outside on a nice day worh a 'free, please help yourself' sign or similar.

There are two large containers for books at our local recycling centre. I've put some in there before. Not sure what happens to them afterwards though, whether they are distributed somehow or shredded up for recycling.

Our local Tesco does also have a bookcase out with second hand books and I believe the proceeds go to local charities.

Diamond I was on your thread about books - which site did you buy the books from? It's not good if they arrived in bad condition. Have you given feedback or attempted to return? I've bought secondhand books online and never had any arrive in 'disgusting condition' - just a bit bashed usually. You need to contact the seller. (Apologies if you have done this already)

Email local school and ask if they would like them. Our school is always emailing asking for books, toys and games.

There are lots of selling apps you can download: Ziffit, MusicMagpie, WeBuyBooks and others. Scan the book barcodes to see if they accept them, box them up and post them (for free). Sometimes you only get about 10p per book but at least they're out of your way and will potentially be resold and read again.

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut

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.

Phone first and arrange to deliver to any of the above suggestions. Most will be grateful.

@Diamondsapphire

Funnily enough I started a thread on this the other day but in the opposite position! I was looking for cheap(er) books! I don’t have time to be wandering around charity shops and although I did buy some from a website someone directed me to, the books that arrived were in a disgusting condition so I haven’t kept them.

I’ve looked on Facebook but maybe people have got fed up.

My child is still very young and reading That’s Not My and pop up books and so on and £6.99 for something that takes about ninety seconds to read stings … but books are important.

Probably a stupid question, but have you checked out your local libraries?

@Legoisthebest I didn’t bother with feedback, to be honest, just put it down to experience. I think the problem is most books that toddlers have had will end up somewhat bashed and revolting!

@TheSpottedZebra we are members of the library but our library doesn’t have much by way of toddler books, and also it is a bit of a hassle getting them out and returning them.

Diamond you should give feedback otherwise people will just carry on selling poor quality books.

@Diamondsapphire

Funnily enough I started a thread on this the other day but in the opposite position! I was looking for cheap(er) books! I don’t have time to be wandering around charity shops and although I did buy some from a website someone directed me to, the books that arrived were in a disgusting condition so I haven’t kept them.

I’ve looked on Facebook but maybe people have got fed up.

My child is still very young and reading That’s Not My and pop up books and so on and £6.99 for something that takes about ninety seconds to read stings … but books are important.

I’m sure you’re sorted now but please please join freegle/freecycle and put up a wanted post.

Ours regularly has bundles of books people are giving away (different genres) but if you put up a wanted post, with the fort of books you’re looking for, people would fish them out of their charity shop boxes. I love posts like this they make me look for things to donate.