What Do You Do With A Book When Your Done Reading it

Mom2Grey · Post by **Mom2Grey** » 23 Nov 2013, 20:33

I'm going to make a real effort from now on to donate them to the local public library. If they can't use them, then perhaps they will go to another branch instead. Our library system's nonfiction collection just sucks, so perhaps my well-loved tomes will end up in circulation.

Even if some people might find them a little on the dry side...

atreat123 · Post by **atreat123** » 23 Nov 2013, 22:10

That is a great idea.

arnaleigh · Post by **arnaleigh** » 24 Nov 2013, 21:08

I've never really thought of doing anything except keeping them in my bookshelf! There are several I will re-read eventually but others were definitely a one time thing. I don't think I could bring myself to get rid of them though... I'm a bit of a book hoarder. I still have all my books from when I was a kid in boxes!

atreat123 · Post by **atreat123** » 24 Nov 2013, 22:23

Having been from a mold exposure and developed severe allergies and sensitivities, I don't have any books from childhood. I have kept books thinking I would re-read them only to discover that I didn't want to and eventually gave them away.

LadyE77 · Post by **LadyE77** » 25 Nov 2013, 08:36

If it's a good book, I keep it in my library. If it's not, I sell it or give it to someone who will appreciate it.

kim-darrell · Post by **kim-darrell** » 25 Nov 2013, 09:22

After I'm done reading I give all my books away to my friend and when she is done reading her books she gives the ones I haven't read to me and the others that I gave to her she gives to friends.

FNAWrite · Post by **FNAWrite** » 25 Nov 2013, 09:47

Way back at the beginning of this threrad, Linkhorn said: "We don't generally keep paperbacks, they have a short lifespan anyhow"

Short compared to a Galapgos turtle I guess.

I have found that paprbacks last close to a human life span in good, readable condition. I have many 50 year old+ paperbacks - books that were 10-20 years old when I got them.

The mass market print-jobs do seem to go bad a little faster - by 50 years old the pages are yellowed and breakable, spine glue may be failing, but they are still readable.

So while one may not be passing paperbacks down through the faily, it is inaccurate to say they have a "short life span".

As others have said what I do with read books depends on the book. The majority go into boxes for donation which end up being boxthat take up space for a long life span. Keepers generally go into open stacks while I wait for more shelving. Very few get squeezed onto existing shelves which are already full.

ddane24 · Post by **ddane24** » 26 Nov 2013, 21:25

I actually collect books. So basically, i keep all my books and after a few months i read it again to feel the happiness uve felt when i was reading it before

Cmoobs04 · Post by **Cmoobs04** » 27 Nov 2013, 14:40

I give mine away

ElisaMac · Post by **ElisaMac** » 28 Nov 2013, 14:28

I usually keep my books, but I will loan them out to very specific people if I know they"ll love them! If I did not enjoy the book, I will give it to someone I know will enjoy it.

ElisaMac · Post by **ElisaMac** » 28 Nov 2013, 14:31

If I loved it-I keep it but share it. If I did not love it, I try to find someone who will.

SarahBearah · Post by **SarahBearah** » 29 Nov 2013, 15:22

I get sad... very very sad... just like a precious tv show that you love and want to continue seeing forever, but then it comes to an end... well that's how I feel when I've finished a book.

And then I put it away for safe keeping to perhaps read again in a few years.

nbaker · Post by **nbaker** » 01 Dec 2013, 23:16

I generally keep all of mine placed all over the place, but if I needed to find it I could. Otherwise I end up lending my books out to friends to read and share.

mmp0303 · Post by **mmp0303** » 03 Dec 2013, 12:01

I usually prefer paper books over e-books. When I finish a book I put it up for display on my bookshelf like a trophy. With e-books I feel like I don't get the same feeling of accomplishment.

Amheiser · Post by **Amheiser** » 03 Dec 2013, 19:52

It depends on how good the book is. If it's a really good book, I may re-read it or keep it around to loan to others. Otherwise, I re-sell or donate it.