Old books

[mnmnddddd]

Not sure this is quite what the book swap board is intended for, but ...

I have a large quantity of old books I need rid of. Some are 40yr old pulp, others are around 100yrs old, and there may very well be some first editions in there (not that that means they're worth more than tuppence hapney). They range from kids books to niche academic books.

The easy option would be the recycling centre, but I can't bring myself to do that with books.
Local charity shops seem overloaded and don't want them.
Online "services" want ISBN numbers and there are too many for that to be practicable.

Any thoughts on how to deal with them?

Me too! I’ve no idea what to do with them

have a look at Anglo Doorstep Collections. As well as using donations I think they sell to places like booksellers to raise funds for charity

https://anglodoorstepcollections.co.uk/free-charity-book-collections/

You could also look for a local bookswap at stations. We have a few in SW London and everything I've left there has gone by my next visit. Even books I thought no-one else would want.

My local Sainsbury's now has a table of donated books with a collecting tin next to it for people to give whatever donation they want to give for any book they take.
Also Asda has a shelf of books that have been donated and free for any one to take. Likewise the foyer of the local hospital has a table of donated books free to take.
There might be similar things in your area OP.

https://www.thebookguide.info/ will give you info about second hand book dealers in your area and what sort of books they sell. Talk to a couple give them an idea what you've got and then they may ask you to bring them in or come to collect them, As to how much they will pay, who knows. It's worth checking for first editions, I saw a (rather tatty) first paperback edition of James Bond Dr No, last week priced at £75. Perhaps choose a selection and see what sort of price they are listed for on AbeBooks, £5 or less including postage, those are ones for recycling. Like most collectibles (unless the item is extremely rare) condition is everything.

Can you find a specialist charity book shop, one near me curates them beautifully and charges proper money. They know what they are doing.
Standard charity shop will likely bin unfortunately.
Or sell them to AI!

The National Trust often has second hand bookshops at their sites - could try them?

Google second hand books in your area, there are still some, or put a post on socials about them.