Donating books...where is best place?...

[Tammy]

I have a lot of books (no longer need these since they are too young for my kids now)....but where should I donate them?

I did donate a lot of phonics stuff to my neighborhood preschool.....but I am wondering if these older books would be better off somewhere else.

What do you all think?

Tammy

[A.J. at J.A.]

Depending on what they are, you might consider posting them on www.bookmooch.com

I just love that site and have been able to trade in books I no longer want or need for ones that I would like to have.

Angela

[KH_]

When I donate books, I usually donate them to our local library - if they don't want to put them into circulation, they'll put them in with their "book sale" books.

But lately, I've been swapping my books (haven't tried Bookmooch) at Paperbackswap.com. I've been able to get some books that I wanted for the ones I was looking to get rid of, and it's worked out well.

[MichelleWI]

I used to donate them to my library, but we have moved to a town with an abysmal library that sells all donated items. They built a new building 10 years ago only large enough to house what they already had. They only add new books by purchasing them and selling off older books. They have very few classics. Argh!

I offer to homeschooling friends first, then donate to Goodwill in a nearby city. A large number of homeschool families donate at that same Goodwill, and buy there as well.

[BizyPenguin]

I have a lot of books (no longer need these since they are too young for my kids now)....but where should I donate them?

Tammy

You can donate almost anything except textbooks to your local library. You can also donate your books to Goodwill or Salvation Army. I've never used Book Samaritan (http://www.booksamaritan.com), but I've heard they are a reputable non-profit company who help out homeschoolers in need. You have to pay your own shipping costs, but they do give a tax reciept for your records and if you ship media mail, rates are much lower. I'm actually considering donating to them soon b/c I have some homeschool curricula that is hard to sell and sometimes it's just a royal pain to list all of that stuff online for such a little return. HTH!

[PrairieAir]

I second Book Samaritan. I've sent some of our things there and plan to send this year's books when we finish enough to fill a box. Book Samaritan is Ree's baby, and I trust her. Giving the books to Goodwill or the library, they may or may not get used. I think they have a better chance of getting to someone who really needs and can use them by giving them to Book Samaritan.

[inquirer]

We give ours that are in good condition to a local organization that sets up small lending libraries in some of our cities most underdeveloped neighborhoods.

[Rhesa]

I almost always donate to the library first, where they sell them for their used book sale.

After that, I will donate to Goodwill or another charitable organization.

Or donate them to another homeschooler who has younger children!:)

[Jean in Newcastle]

I take them to our local homeschool consignment shop and put the ones they will take on consignment. Then I spend way more than I would ever make on my consigned books on new books to fill up the shelves! :D