Get Rid Of Some Of Your Books
Many of us have books we no longer read – and some we are no longer ever likely to read. And many of us buy books new – nothing wrong with that!
However… perhaps a percentage of our book-buying could be done second-hand – and maybe it could be funded by selling some of our surplus books online. Even better, perhaps we could help plant a tree each time!
Well, that’s the idea behind greenmetropolis.com.
By recycling used books not only are we saving existing trees, we’re actually planting new ones. How? GreenMetropolis.com donates 5p for every book sold to the ‘Plant a Tree’ scheme run by the Woodland Trust – the UK’s largest tree planting charity.
Sign up at their website.
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Midhurst, GB , 25 Aug 2005
Recycle some of your books at Greenbelt 05 at BookAid on Friday evening and Saturday morning
taunton, GB , 30 Aug 2005
i am getting better at getting rid of books, but the ‘hoarding’ instinct is hard to slaughter!
i prefer to give certain books to certain friends, rather than just dump in charity shop… tho i do just dump in charity shop sometimes, i admit.
i have pretty much stopped buying new books, unless i really really feel i need to (like the tree poem book at greenbelt for example… can’t get THAT from my local library, and my kids’ poems were in it!)
i either buy 2nd hand or get out from library. remember that if your local library doesn’t have a particular book on the shelf, you ought to be able to order any book that’s in print, for 80p. With the price of books these days, i think that’s quite a bargain. If you get then get the book out and read it and know that you just have to own it or you’ll die… THEN go buy it, is my advice (to myself!)
Godalming, GB , 31 Aug 2005
Prices for ordering books from libraries vary, but it is a great idea to try your library first of all. Here in Surrey it is now 90p to order a book from insided the county. If the book is only available nationally it could cost several pounds. It can take a while for a new book to be stocked and sometimes there is a long waiting list.
I don’t think it is possible to order fiction, either.
To give a few examples, I saw “Save Cash and Save the Planet” staring at me on the new book shelf a while ago, yet when I checked to see if Leo Hickman’s “A Life Stripped Bare” was on the catalogue it wasn’t, so I bought it. However, yesterday I noticed it was now in stock within the county – I’d decided to order his other book, “A Good Life”, for which there had been a long waiting list when it first came out. Most copies were still out on loan mind, but I am first in the queue for the first one to come back anywhere in Surrey.
Maidenhead, GB , 31 Aug 2005
I sold my first book on greenmetropolis today! I’d had a few books listed there for a few weeks and had almost forgotton about it when I got the email. It’s all packaged up and ready to go. It’s a really good system they have – the email that comes when you have sold a book has a bit at the bottom you print out and use as a packing slip – or you could write out the information if you don’t have a printer.
04 Sep 2005
This will be a big part of my decluttering! Magazines as well as books…
Anyone want the last two to three years of issues of New Internationalist and Ethical Consumer, still in original packaging? (actually, I am going to read the EC, but the NI are just too much).
05 Sep 2005
Don’t forget the doctor’s & dentist’s surgery when getting rid of magazines – I’d welcome a copy of NI when I’m waiting at the doctor’s – our surgery’s generally has a dire selection! If I remember to, I take some reading material with me and then leave it there for others.
06 Sep 2005
So far, sold £70 worth of books on greenmetropolis.com. Idea being that in due course will use revenue to plant trees to offset carbon emissions on flights to North America last year.
Midhurst, GB , 11 Sep 2005
Obliged to have a serious look at the book situation after a mouse and a leaky pipe (they are related) forced me to empty the bookcase.Is my nearly-complete series of hardback Famous Five of any use to anyone? Back copies of Garden Illustrated? The mouse won’t be reading them … All remaining books actually fit on the shelves now and will try GreenMetropolis.com with the remaining boxes full. Or even the local second hand bookshop.
30 Sep 2005
I’ve just done this as we were putting up a new shelf in the living room and it seemed like a good opportunity to actually make space for all the books on the shelves (rather than on the floor, on the fronts of the shelves etc.)
I try to get rid of books I won’t read again, though it’s very hard!
I will remember the magazines at the doctor’s/dentist’s tip – I tend to just recycle them.
30 Sep 2005
I love getting a good buy on a book at the local charity shops. Now my stack is quite high and its time to stop and just read. However, in 3 years (probably) I will be moving back to Canada and the less books the better. So after I read them I donate them to our little local library (they use some of them and sell the rest to buy new ones) or give them to my daughter who takes them to Workshop (surely you’ve seen the fliers on the loo doors at Greenbelt) and students there buy them and the money goes to help Workshop.
Maidenhead, GB , 30 Sep 2005
I just bought a Vegetarian cookery book (to help with the meat free day action) from GreenMetropolis with some of the money I’ve got selling old computer books there :) I also managed to get a second hand copy of one of the books I need for my next Open University course.
29 Oct 2005
I only do this when the house can’t hold any more.
Sheffield, GB , 03 Nov 2005
I’ve ordered books form green metropolis for our book group i was really impressed with them.
Godalming, GB , 06 Nov 2005
November ‘05 I think I did this last year, but we’ve just had another grand clear out of our bookcases spurred on by a bag from Help the Aged to say they’re collecting in our area this week.
19 Dec 2005
I love bookcrossing and share my books out around the World, its so wonderful to see where they end up and the fantastic journals they have.
Its a great way to read the books you want to and then send or pass them on to the next person on the list who wants to read it.
GB , 29 Dec 2005
When I lived in Brazil I was desperate for good books. I was sent used books by friends in England and I always took lots over when I came on homeleave. The books were circulated among the other missionaries, and when we had read them all, we would send them on to the Anglican Church in Rio de Janeiro where there is a large English speaking community, also desperate for books. The vicar there sells them for 50 pence or so, the money is for his discretionary fund, it is used for all sorts of emergencies. If your church supports missionaries abroad, contact them and ask whether they would like a book.
09 Jan 2006
I’ve recently discovered http://www.readitswapit.co.uk . It’s a book swap site where you can exchange books with someone for the price of sending them second-class (about 43p for a standard paperback).
Newark, GB , 16 Jan 2006
I’ve listed about a third of my books on Green Metropolis (but everytime I sell some I tend to then buy some more from there!). Also, Lincolnshire libraries only charge 15p for web reservations and you can reserve pretty much anything.
17 Jan 2006
Keep trying to cut down on my bookshelf, but it just keeps growing, however I am a member of book crossing and do try use where possible, also use the library where ever possible too!
24 Jan 2006
I would recommend Bookcrossing. I’ve been doing it for a couple of years and love to give my books away after reading. It’s also great fun to track them through the web-site.
London, GB , 17 Feb 2006
This is going to hurt… but I’m going to give it a go…
AF , 23 Feb 2006
If you have books to give away you can find takers for them easily by advertising them at www.GreenGonzo.com – click this link to visit them. I posted some books I no longer needed the other day and now they have all been snapped up. Doesn’t cost you a thing to advertise, its a pity more people aren’t using this great new initiative. Go have a look – www.GreenGonzo.com
28 Feb 2006
ohh, this one is soooo hard!
13 Mar 2006
I’m really enjoying using www.readitswapit.co.uk very good fun and it means I don’t mind getting rid of my books because the people swapping actually want to read them.
GB , 29 Mar 2006
I discussed this my wife before christmas….it got a bit heated. I lost, the books stayed. However, I’m now working from home and so far she hasn’t noticed the shelves looking a little bit thinner. hehehehehehehe I’m going to be so much trouble when she does. Please pray for me.
04 Apr 2006
We do this periodically,to clear space for more to be honest, but at least they go to a new home via the charity shop or greenmetropolis
06 Apr 2006
I am loving this site. So full of useful info. I currently have books on greenmetropolis but have not sold any yet. I am looking forward to the day that I do. Catnapping uttered, my husband also hates to get rid of books. I think being sneaky is the safest way. They are my books after all
Nancy, FR , 09 Apr 2006
I think I’m going to have a big sort and give some of my books to the American Library here in Nancy (I live in France). I have got so much pleasure out of borrowing their books that I would like my books to give other people pleasure instead of just hoarding them in my flat!
Scunthorpe, GB , 21 Apr 2006
I do try to go through my books from time to time and sort some out to give away. I have to admit though that I tend to think of ‘books as friends’! There are a few (well if I’m honest a lot) that I can’t even think about getting rid of! My brother tends to buy fiction from one charity shop and when he’s read it donate it to another charity shop but I can’t seem to do that (especially not the donating!) I do lend books to people though and they don’t always make it back!
New Malden, GB , 03 May 2006
I tried to sell some books on ebay, but nobody wanted them : ( Will try to sell them on green metropolis and see if I get any more luck!
03 May 2006
As others here have said, Green Metropolis is a great site and I would highly recommend it. Ebay is a good way of getting rid of books too as are charity shops, friends and relatives. In my family books circulate and then get sold on Green Metropolis or given to charity.
20 May 2006
Recently did some “cleaning up” at one of our churches – lots of books no-one was using. It would be good to make this a positive thing. TN
14 Jun 2006
I never thought I could, but I’ve found I can … reduce the amount of books on my sagging shelves. I put just one onto GreenMetropolis.com a month ago – sold it today; and now am negotiating other sales…
Gainsborough, GB , 15 Aug 2006
I’m hoping to go to the Northern Christian Resources Exhibition at Harrogate 19th – 21st October, and there will be a book aid van for donations of Chrisian books and Bibles. This seems like a really good opportunity to pass on things which have bene wonderful to me.
I’m going to try GreenMetropolis.com as well.
Gainsborough, GB , 15 Aug 2006
I’m hoping to go to the Northern Christian Resources Exhibition at Harrogate 19th – 21st October, and there will be a book aid van for donations of Chrisian books and Bibles. This seems like a really good opportunity to pass on things which have bene wonderful to me.
I’m going to try GreenMetropolis.com as well.
Gainsborough, GB , 15 Aug 2006
Just checked and Book Aid has a web site at www.bookaid.org
Hope this helps someone to let something go!
Gainsborough, GB , 15 Aug 2006
Just checked and Book Aid has a web site at www.bookaid.org
Hope this helps someone to let something go!
22 Aug 2006
www.readitswapit.co.uk is a great site for recycling those old books as is greenmetropolis.
Book crossing is fun too.
24 Aug 2006
going to try greenmetropolis for the several carrier bags of books I have earmarked for recycling, and have been wondering what to do with. Unfortunately I’ve already seen a few I want so this may not help my decluttering efforts…
29 Aug 2006
A GP surgery locally gladly receives second hand books and jigsaws, leaving them on shelves in the waiting room for people to take. There’s an honesty box which has raised about 300 pounds this year towards a new defibrillator.
03 Sep 2006
Have greenmetroploised a lot of books and readitswapit’d a few too. Joined the local library last week so no more new books for me.
13 Sep 2006
Couldn’t part with some but sent some onto the church and school book stalls, not only recyceled but a bit of fundraising. Also have a book swop scheme at work and swapped a couple for my next good read!
Wendover, GB , 26 Sep 2006
Aargh !
Love the idea, won’t be decluttering, may need a new bookcase/room/house to fit in this ecological new loot : ) !
30 Oct 2006
My hope is that putting a few books on the Green Metropolis site will give me time to adjust to the fact that I am parting with them. Even if they haven’t sold in a few months then maybe I will be psychologically in a better position to cope with giving them away to the charity shop. :-)
milton keynes, GB , 01 Nov 2006
tried using greenmetropolis.com but still have a pile of books waiting to be sold! like the idea of the site but hasn’t really helped the clear out. just listed some books on bookmooch.com, works in a similar way to greenmetropolis but you give them away instead of selling, how generous is that! still waiting to give my first book away though.
easiest way of clearing some books was to give to our local hospice charity who have a dedicated charity book shop, plus another idea is to have a book sale, we held one at our church, hundreds of books were donated and hundreds of pounds made!
28 Nov 2006
I’m having so much fun doing this it can’t be good for me. I’ve so far sold 9 books and bought 9 books – if you do the maths, you’ll know that I had to credit my account with a bit of cash to achieve this, so it hasn’t quite broken my book buying habit. It’s certainly cheaper, though, and I don’t feel quite so bad knowing that I am buying second hand, and will probably sell the book on again afterwards …
New York City, US , 29 Nov 2006
An inexpensive barter option in the U.S. is
http://www.paperbackswap.com/
07 Dec 2006
I emailed, using BCC of course, all my friends with the link for www.GreenMetropolis.com so they could have a look too. They are all bookworms and terrible hoarders but tend to head straight for Amazon online so I thought it would be good to give them an option.
London, GB , 05 Feb 2007
After months of no activity, I have now sold three books through GreenMetropolis in the last two weeks. Because they sell the books in the order that they are posted, it can take some considerable time for your books to make it to the “head of the queue”. Don’t give up hope! My sudden success has motivated me to add some more books to the site, so perhaps I will finally make a dent on the mountain of unshelved books for which there is no room.
Calgary, CA , 06 Feb 2007
I stopped by a local coffee shop/bookstore dropped off 15 titles that I wasn’t going to read again. Someone else gets a deal on the books and I have $25 credit at the shop.
08 Feb 2007
I tried to sell some books on greenmetropolis.com but so far no one wants them. Boo hoo. We have also taken a few boxes along to the local charity shop. There’s a nice idea at a website called bookcrossing.com The idea is that you leave your book in a public place for someone else to pick up. You include a bookplate explaining the process and books can be registered on the website. One book has been read by 295 people. I think this is a great idea and it’s nice to be able to track your book as it travels.
Watford, GB , 02 Mar 2007
I’ve started bookcrossing, and also joined www.readitswapit.co.uk. It’s fun, I always get excited when I see an email requesting a new swap in my inbox. Any new books i have now, i’ve either gained from swaping or bought in charity shops. As far as possible also, I try to reuse packaging when sending books. I’ve invested in a pad of reuse labels from traidcraft. Most people i’ve swapped with do reuse their packaging, and its quite pleasing when i get a jiffy envelope which has been used 4 or 5 times (but i always try and get another use out of it!) My pile of books is now so high, I think I may have to stop swapping for a while until i’ve got through a few!
Belfast, GB , 22 May 2007
As you see by my username, I am another keen member of bookcrossing.com! In fact I run the Belfast group! It has started me reading much more, and releasing books I have enjoyed for others to enjoy too!
Sunbury On Thames, GB , 20 Aug 2007
We had to have a very serious look at our books… We’re very attached to them and find it very hard to part with books. However, this week we had a good turn out and gave lots and lots away. It can be done, but I won’t say it wasn’t hard.
29 Aug 2007
Yes it is very hard but I’m determined, after buying a few from Greenbelt, to weed out and give some more to Oxfam.