In this post, we’ll be discussing what to do with old textbooks.
Like a lot of people, you may find yourself in the fortunate position of having obtained a lot of new text books for your university course.
However, when you’re done with the course, you or the people you bought them for may not have a use for them anymore.
Essentially, students are left with an extra pile of books that don’t have a purpose.
They’re taking up space in the living room or bedroom and you don’t know what to do with them.
It’s not easy to get rid of books because we spend tons of money buying them for ourselves or loved ones.
Textbooks are usually a necessity.
What do you think of when they’re gone?
In fact, we’ve all sworn to ourselves that we’ll keep our books forever just in case we need them again, but it’s rare that someone actually does after they complete their studies.
To make the most out of them and avoid wasting those precious textbooks, you’ll have to figure out what to do with the used books.
What to do with old textbooks
Textbooks are a crucial part of our lives.
We use them in school, at home and in the workplace.
Most of us have so many textbooks in our homes that we can’t keep track of them.
They can become quite a nuisance to look at and they give off an awkward and unsightly appearance.
That’s why finding new uses for old textbooks is important because books are expensive.
The following are some remarkable and even unconventional ideas on what you can do with old textbooks:
Fix them
Is your favorite textbook coming apart at the seams?
Did a family member, friend or classmate spill coffee on it?
If it’s only a few pages that are damaged, then you should consider fixing them.
It can be as simple as folding down the corner of the pages that are sticking out, or gluing the corners together if they ripped in half.
No one will be able to tell the difference, and you won’t kill your books.
If the book is damaged in other places or has a large hole in the middle, you might want to consider printing the pages that are torn or missing and binding them together with the existing pages.
This can be done by using binding clips and glue.
Of course, you have to make sure that the content matches up accordingly because you don’t want your chapters to be out of order.
From there, you can hold on to that special textbook.
Donate old textbooks
If you don’t want to be bothered with fixing your textbooks, then you can always consider donating them to a school that needs them.
A lot of schools, especially those that are located in remote areas, don’t have the necessary materials to teach their students.
They’ll appreciate anything you give to them and you’ll feel great knowing that your old books are being put to good use.
If you live in a developed country, you have access to the best educational materials and literature.
Most schools that are located in developing countries do not have such luxuries.
Your old textbooks can help those less fortunate children who are trying to make something of themselves by studying hard and becoming better members of society.
Also, local libraries can always use your old books, especially if you have a specialized degree.
The Public Library Association suggests that librarians spend 15 percent of their budget on new books.
If you have some extra books, then consider donating them to the library and being remembered as a philanthropist.
You’ll also be helping other people out by doing something good with your old books.
Goodwill, the Salvation Army and Better World Books are also some of the most reputable charities that will take in your old books.
Sell your old textbooks
Did you know that you can sell your old textbooks online?
All you have to do is search for a website that will buy your used books.
There are a lot of companies on the internet that buy and sell used books every single day.
It’s easy to find them and will provide some quick cash for you.
Some of the trusted online marketplaces for books include eBay, Amazon, Books4Cash, and Craigslist.
If you have a specialized textbook that requires a high amount of skill to use or have in your possession, then you might be able to sell it for a good price.
For example, if you own the newest edition of Kingdom of the Wicked Box Set, which was released in 2011, you might be able to sell your old version for a high price.
The textbook industry is worth billions of dollars every single year.
You can use this to your advantage by selling your old books.
Sell them for a small amount of cash if you’re trying to get rid of them fast or sell them for a good price if you want to make some good money.
Trade your old textbooks
If you have a lot of books then you might have an abundance of the same description.
Instead of wasting your time selling each one individually, why not look for someone that has the same books as you and trade with them?
This is a very efficient way to get rid of your old textbooks in exchange for other ones you can use.
If you need help finding someone that has the same books as you, then try using social media or message boards.
You can also simply ask your friends, school mates and family members if they’ve had any success in finding other people that have the same books as you.
Then trade out your books for others that you don’t have and need.
You’ll be happy you did it when you get rid of a good amount of old textbooks.
Give them away
Another great way to get rid of your old textbooks is to give them away to people that have a similar interest or passion as you do.
For example, if you have a book that’s related to computers and you know someone that is studying how to properly use them, give it to them.
This can be used for any type of textbook as long as the person is really interested in what they’re getting or the recipient can use it in some creative way.
You don’t want to give away some of your favorite books to people who won’t appreciate them.
You’ll just be wasting your time and money by doing so.
It could be a sibling, college friend, relative or a friend of the family.
The possibilities are endless, but you should be able to find someone that will love what you’re giving them.
Take advantage of garage sales
If you’re just starting out and don’t have a lot of money, then you may be limited on what you can do with your old textbooks.
However, there are still some tangible ways to use them without spending any money.
First, check out your local area for “garage sales,” which are hosted by people who are moving or going out of their houses soon.
These places usually have old furniture and other things that can be resold in the yard sale that’s taking place.
This is a great opportunity for you to get some money out of your old textbooks.
If you have some extra time in the day, then consider going to these garage sales yourself.
You might be able to find someone that’s interested in what you have to offer and will give you some money in exchange for it.
Don’t take advantage of people who are trying to throw a sale and sell your books at prices that are unreasonable just to get rid of them quickly.
Gift your books
Everyone loves a thoughtful and memorable gift.
If you’re trying to get rid of your old textbooks, then consider giving them away to someone who is important in your life.
Give them away as holiday gifts for Christmas or as birthday presents for people that are turning a certain age or celebrating another special occasion.
If there’s someone in your life that really appreciates literature, then giving away one of your old books will make their day.
For every occasion, gift someone one of your textbooks that you know they’ll love and appreciate.
According to Pew Research Center, 26% of the people who read books love the fact that they’re gaining knowledge and discovering new information.
This means giving someone a book or two is a good idea because they’ll be learning something new and gaining some entertainment value as well.
Sooner than later, most of the old books will be out of your shelf and in the hands of a new owner.
Recycle
In just a few years, landfills will have reached their capacity and be forced to close down.
This is because of the massive amounts of non-biodegradable materials, such as copies of Shakespeare’s Works and other old textbooks that have been thrown into the garbage.
Instead of harming our planet by polluting the environment, why not recycle them?
Recycling your old textbooks will help protect the landfills from becoming overpopulated with these hazardous materials.
Check out your local scrapbooking store or craft shop for some supplies to recycle old textbooks.
Alternatively, some local recycling programs will accept old books as long as they can still be reused.
For scrapbooks, you can use old textbooks to make photo albums and note books.
You might need some extra supplies, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve learned a variety of ways to use your old textbooks, you can come up with a unique way to make use of them.
It’s important to think outside of the box when it comes to how you dispose of your old books and how to get rid of them.
You’ll be surprised at how creative you can be with this idea and it might even inspire you for other ways for it to be useful in your life.
Once you’ve come up with a way to use them for a specific purpose, then it will be much easier for you to actually achieve the goal of getting rid of your old textbooks.
For example, if you’re giving them away as Christmas gifts then you’ll have more time to prepare for it.
Don’t waste any more time and money storing your old textbooks in the closet or under your bed.
FAQs
What is the best place to sell old textbooks?
There are lots of places that you can sell your old textbooks.
You can sell them on Craigslist, Facebook, eBay, Books4Cash, BookByte, BookScouter, Amazon, Campus Books and more.
You can also go to a bookstore and try to sell them there or look for a publishing company that you can sell to.
They will buy your old textbooks if they’re in decent condition.
What can i do with old university textbooks?
Lots of things! You can sell them, donate them to your local library, recycle them or use them for scrapbooks.
