to ask what you do with books when you have read them

[risetowefall]

do you donate or sell them or just keep them

If it is a present and i enjoyed it I will keep it. Some go to charity shops if in good condition others go to the little free library in someone’s garden round the corner to me. Every so often I have a mass clear out. I counted I have over 30 books waiting to be read.

Keep them. DH has given up and simply offers more bookcase occasionally. He is now discovering that I’ve saved us a fortune as both DSs are working their way through first my children’s books and then on into more adult books.

Donate somewhere convienent, school Christmas fayre when ds was at school. Local supermarket shelves now (cant even remember what charity it is for, but it is very convienent).

I keep 95% of the books I buy as if it is good, I will read it again. I rarely buy books "on spec" and tend to stick to authors I know so I have a good idea I am going to like it.
Luckily we have the space and love a well stocked bookshelf, there is something satisfying about browsing through shelves of books to find one to read knowing that you are going to enjoy it (again).

I must admit that when we moved last year I was a little shocked at the number of boxes of books but after we had moved in, it was exciting sorting out new bookshelves and loading them up.

I mostly read library books so I just return them to the library

the books that I own I stick back on the shelf, perhaps I'll reread in the future, perhaps dd will want to read them in a few years time. I can't ever just throw books away (apart from the time I dropped one in the loo - that went in the bin!) But might donate to the charity shop if it's a book I'll never want to reread and doubt dd would like.

We have a lot of shelving in the house so I'm gradually filling them up. I grew up in a home with millions of books, so it seems normal to me to have them. I feel a bit sad going into homes with no books, and love browsing others' shelves.

I keep the ones I really, really loved (maybe 1 a year), the other "good" ones I pass on to my mum because we have similar taste - and she then passes them on to other friends, or charity shops them.
The ones that were only okay, or I didn't want to continue with, I put on the charity bookshelf in my local garden centre. Did that yesterday in fact, with 2 very average thrillers. But someone else may love them.

If anyone is in /around MCR, there is a vending machine in the Corn Exchange that gives you second hand books. You bring your old book, the concierge gives you a machine token (and they'll use your book to stock the machine) then you can choose someone else's.

There are easier and quicker ways to pass on books, of course, but it's a nice novelty thing.

Oh that's a fun idea!!