Access Atlanta > The Newcomer > Archives > 2008 > June > 06 > Entry
Q&A, v. 6: Where can books get a second life?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Well, I’m the only one with a question this week, but it’s one that I trip on every day when I leave this house: where in this town should I donate or sell old books?
I have a nasty habit of hoarding reading material. When I moved here, I made a big decision to thin the collection so it actually fits on the shelves. That left me with several large boxes and stacks of books — fiction, literary nonfiction, text books, good books, awful books — piling up by the door and threatening to tumble every time I open it.
But I love my books — oh, the hours I spent deciding which ones should go! — and I want them to go where I know it’s helping people, or at least where someone is likely to see it and have a chance to enjoy it like I did.
There was an interesting AJC story about Better World Books, a for-profit company that holds book drives and sends some of the profit back to non-profits while reselling the books.
I see giant book collection bins outside of Krogers and Whole Foods around town, too.
And Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party, the little coffee shop in my neighborhood, sells used books for 50 cents to benefit Mary Lin Elementary.
I’m sure there are plenty of used-books buyers in town, too. A great list of Atlanta-area book stores emerged on the blog this week. Who would be willing to take a few (hundred) off my hands?
SO! If you have a question, remember, we look for answers every Friday. Leave your questions about the best of, history of, quirkiness of Atlanta and Georgia in the comments or in my e-mail at jgumbrecht@ajc.com. We’ll try to get your questions answered in Friday’s post. Don’t be shy.
Permalink | Comments (27) | Post your comment | Categories: Questions & Answers
Comments
By Jeff
June 6, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this
I’d donate them to the local library (if they’re in decent condition) or simply burn them (if in not-so-decent condition).
I do know of a few stores that re-sell used books, but they are few and far between, at least here in South GA. (I know of MAYBE two in Albany, and another in Warm Springs.)
I typically give out my books to friends and family that are interested in them. If they come back, cool. If not, not a big deal. (Actually just recently got back a lot of Cussler texts that I had given a friend a few years ago.)
By Anne
June 6, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this
I swear, Jeff….do you read minds? Books that I choose not to keep, I donate to the library. When I lived in Florida, there were several private owned bookstores that would take books and issue a credit towards other books in their store. Plus, when I visit my best friend, I usually have several bags for her! Up here in the Woodstock area, there are two places that accept used books, but being relatively new to the area myself, I don’t know of any inside the perimeter.
By hsiobhanc
June 6, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
The Salvation Army takes used books as donations. They are sold in the store and the money used for charity.
By Mary
June 6, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
Dontate your used books and magazines to retirment homes. They are usually happy to get reading materials.
By Paul
June 6, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
Friends of the Sandy Springs Library (FOSSL) accepts used books brought to the Sandy Springs branch to re-sell in our semi-annual book sale to benefit the library. Volunteers and monetary donations are also welcome—info available at the branch :)
By happy2teach
June 6, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
My classroom would love them! Of course, many classrooms in your area probably would as well…
By A dawg
June 6, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this
Selling books in this town is tough. There’s a place called Eagle Eye Books on N. Decatur Road that will buy books from individuals. They can be picky, though. Next, I’d take books to the Book Nook on N. Druid Hills Road at Clairmont Road. They take paperback books in trade.
Think about what you are donating before sending them to retirement homes and such. And call the local library systems to see if they are collecting books for their book sales. A number of area churches do the same in the fall.
Goodwill (like the Salvation Army) will take books to sell but unfortunately they’ve given up their terrific annual book sale they used to hold at Northlake Mall.
By booknut
June 6, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this
Try the Book Exchange in Marietta or Book Nook which has several locations. Also, it might be fun to list a few of them on Bookcrossing.com and leave them somewhere.
By online reader
June 6, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this
Call your local high school media center (library). Book Nook II in Gwinnett County.
By monica
June 6, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
You should sign up on a website called paperbackswap.com where you can trade your old books for something new to read! Its free and easy!!!
By Professor Plum
June 6, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Check out http://www.bookcrossing.com as a means to get rid of unwanted books.
By jlg
June 6, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this
I ship all my old books, as well as those I can buy in garage sales and at Goodwill, to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is a website that offers information for the public on how, where and to whom these and other items may be shipped. The web address is www.anymarine.com Please read about it and make a Marine’s life a little better as he or she serves our country, in-harm’s way. Thank you and bless you for reading this response and donating.
By mom
June 6, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this
My vote so far is happy2teach : ) Love you kid, mom
By dan
June 7, 2008 4:11 AM | Link to this
I take mine to the VA hospital for its patients
By Dusty
June 7, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
I understand from a chaplain at one of the women’s prisons that they have very little to read and love to get books. She told us about this at a church meeting.
By LW
June 7, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
I’ve donated a bunch of books to Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s chemotherapy center. Sometimes people forget to bring their book with them and they’re there for several hours getting their treatment and want something to read.
By Tommy
June 7, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
..if all of the different bibles, and the different versions of them, around this world were collected and burned….then this world would truly be a better place…
By Tommy
June 7, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
..if all of the different bibles, and the different versions of them, around this world were collected and burned….then this world would truly be a better place…
By Shannon
June 7, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this
Send them to me! That is all. :)
#By Bookworm
June 8, 2008 6:06 AM | Link to this
We have two used book stores in Snellville. I’ve been trading my way through all of Clive Cussler’s stuff for the past few months because. It’s a great way to read different authors without paying full price.
By Atlanta Pearl Girl
June 8, 2008 6:57 AM | Link to this
You can also donate the used books to the library…. hence they resale and profits go back to the library which I’m all for.
I’m a hoarder as well of books/reading material. But I’ve realized that using the library is more economical and I don’t end up with TONS of books that I then have to fret over which goes.
I’m all for giving the books to organizations for resale for non-profits. Finding creative ways to recylce the books is abundant.
Another tip: Open Door Society on Ponce accepts reading material and you get the tax write off. As well as, Gateway, or any homeless shelter.
By Mother of Exiles
June 8, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this
Books? It’s a simple formula. If you live in Nazi Germany, you burn all books. If you live in America, and the conservatives are in power, you burn all books.
Obama 08: The Book Burning is over.
By Laura
June 8, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
Take your used books to your local Ethan Allen Design Center. They can be used as props for display bookshelves.
By Victoria Pilate
June 8, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
good places to donate books in good condition:
Veterans Affairs hospitals and old soldiers’ homes
Hospitals
Libraries and charities like nonprofit thrift stores
Send to soldiers overseas
The Book Thing of Baltimore (free bookstore) www.bookthing.org
Bookends www.bookends.org
Native American reservation and reservation schools
prisons (some can only take paperbackbooks) www.wpbp.org
Developments in Literacy (www.4dil.org) — kids books only
public schools in distressed areas
Recycle (DON’T BURN) books beyond mending.
There some periodic drives for Africa and the Caribbean. Somewhere on planet earth there’s at least 10 people dying to have your old books.
By Julie
June 8, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this
I LOVE Book Nook at N. Druid Hills and Clairmont. I have a revolving trade/credit going with them. They take some hardbacks and lots of paperbacks. I also love the idea of donating them to chemo or dialysis centers; nursing homes; hospitals and sending them to the troops.
By Kathryn
June 8, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
“Read It Again” in Cumming is a great place to trade your books -
By Anna
June 8, 2008 9:43 PM | Link to this
Think about your local technical colleg for books that are in great shape. The techical colleges in Georgia are building impressive library collections.