Once you are done with a semester or schooling, you may find yourself stuck with a bundle of textbooks. Unless you have younger siblings or friends to pass them on to, it may be a little difficult to get rid of the books, especially if new editions come out.
You don’t need to throw out your old college textbooks. If they are still in relatively good condition, there are various ways to donate them. Here are some worth considering.
- Post them. Post a list of books you are ready to donate on your social networking site. You may also do it the old-fashioned way by placing a notice on the student board on campus. Younger students looking for a steal will quickly grab the opportunity and take your books off your hands. If you wrote special notes in your books, they may prove even more invaluable to the new owners. Some colleges even have a book exchange program. See if your university or school has one.
- Give them to the library. If you can’t find other students willing to take your old textbooks because they are obsolete, try your local library. If it happens that they have a book drive, you may be able to leave your books with them. Most libraries have sales that sell old books and textbooks for around a dollar a bag. Who knows who will buy them? It is better that they find a new use rather than be thrown in the trash.
- Give them to a church or other local organization. Support your community’s fund drive. If your church has a fundraising activity, see if they are willing to accept college books. Perhaps you may also want to contact a local group that works with disadvantaged youth. Try the local Rotary Club. Check the Yellow Pages and see if there are charities or programs that you can support by donating your old textbooks.
- Go to the National Community Service Resource Center website. This site lists various charities and organizations that accept donations. Go to nationalservicesources.org. Type in “finding places to donate used textbooks”. You may also call them toll-free at (800) 860-2684. Choose a charity or organization based on where you live or what appeals to you. Some charities collect books for local distribution, while others send them out to poorer countries.
- Donate them internationally. There are several organizations that accept used textbooks and give them to poorer communities. There’s Books for the Barrios, which collects books for donation to rural communities in the Philippines. Check out the website at booksforthebarrios.com. You may also try The Global Book Exchange, which is another organization that collects textbooks. Their website is bookexchange.marin.org. Both groups collect books and textbooks for use by disadvantaged communities in developing countries. You may also do an Internet search to find other listings of groups and organizations you can work with.
- Give them to prison libraries. Provide textbooks and other reading materials to prisoners through the Books Through Bars Program. If you are interested in supporting this program by donating your used textbooks, check the website at booksthroughbars.org.
Don’t throw your old books out. Even though outdated, textbooks can still provide useful information to those in need. Donated old textbooks can still be used as reference materials, instead of adding to the ever-increasing stockpile in landfills.
Donate College Textbooks
Donate College Textbooks : Multi-thousand tips to make your life easier.
Once you are done with a semester or schooling, you may find yourself stuck with a bundle of textbooks. Unless you have younger siblings or friends to pass them on to, it may be a little difficult to get rid of the books, especially if new editions come out.
You don’t need to throw out your old college textbooks. If they are still in relatively good condition, there are various ways to donate them. Here are some worth considering.
- Post them. Post a list of books you are ready to donate on your social networking site. You may also do it the old-fashioned way by placing a notice on the student board on campus. Younger students looking for a steal will quickly grab the opportunity and take your books off your hands. If you wrote special notes in your books, they may prove even more invaluable to the new owners. Some colleges even have a book exchange program. See if your university or school has one.
- Give them to the library. If you can’t find other students willing to take your old textbooks because they are obsolete, try your local library. If it happens that they have a book drive, you may be able to leave your books with them. Most libraries have sales that sell old books and textbooks for around a dollar a bag. Who knows who will buy them? It is better that they find a new use rather than be thrown in the trash.
- Give them to a church or other local organization. Support your community’s fund drive. If your church has a fundraising activity, see if they are willing to accept college books. Perhaps you may also want to contact a local group that works with disadvantaged youth. Try the local Rotary Club. Check the Yellow Pages and see if there are charities or programs that you can support by donating your old textbooks.
- Go to the National Community Service Resource Center website. This site lists various charities and organizations that accept donations. Go to nationalservicesources.org. Type in “finding places to donate used textbooks”. You may also call them toll-free at (800) 860-2684. Choose a charity or organization based on where you live or what appeals to you. Some charities collect books for local distribution, while others send them out to poorer countries.
- Donate them internationally. There are several organizations that accept used textbooks and give them to poorer communities. There’s Books for the Barrios, which collects books for donation to rural communities in the Philippines. Check out the website at booksforthebarrios.com. You may also try The Global Book Exchange, which is another organization that collects textbooks. Their website is bookexchange.marin.org. Both groups collect books and textbooks for use by disadvantaged communities in developing countries. You may also do an Internet search to find other listings of groups and organizations you can work with.
- Give them to prison libraries. Provide textbooks and other reading materials to prisoners through the Books Through Bars Program. If you are interested in supporting this program by donating your used textbooks, check the website at booksthroughbars.org.
Don’t throw your old books out. Even though outdated, textbooks can still provide useful information to those in need. Donated old textbooks can still be used as reference materials, instead of adding to the ever-increasing stockpile in landfills.