Neat ways to donate or give books away!

Why give books away?

Books like many items, simply rot away on our shelves if we don't use them.  Left unused for long periods of time, what happens - they collect a ridiculous amount of dust, turn yellow, and fall apart!  They create stagnant or stuck energy in your home.    And they start to smell bad, too. 

Is this the life you intended for the book when you bought it?  Wouldn't it be great to share what you got out of the book with others? Why are you hanging on to it when it could be having a useful life and being of value to people?

Okay, so if I can't appeal to your philanthropic nature, let me try the money angle.  : )  If you donate your books - and itemize deductions, you can deduct them from your income taxes!  Check out It's Deductible software.  They allow you anywhere for 2 - 30$ per book depending on the type.  You can also donate your Books on CD and Books on Tape!

Where to give your books away

Unfortunately, many libraries don't take donated books anymore!  : (  But they will usually take Books on CD and Books on Tape, Videos, DVDs, and Music CDs and Tapes too!

Anyway I did some digging around...and here are some neat ideas for sharing the books you love, but don't need or don't have space for anymore.

JustGIVE.org
This is a list of places to donate just about anything! Whether you want to donate Furniture, Books, Household Good and Clothing, Computers, Cars, Cell Phones, Pet Supplies, Eyeglasses, your Hair, or even your Organs, you can find a resource here.
http://www.justgive.org/html/ways/ways7.html

Friends of Libraries, USA 
Currently accepting donations to rebuild libraries affected by hurricanes and more.
1420 Walnut St, Suite 450  Philadelphia, PA 19102-4017  215-790-1674 or 1-800-9FOLUSA
http://www.folusa.org/

Vietnam Veteran's Association
They have both pick up service and drop off service.  there is a limit on the number of books (2 bags or 2 boxes in my area).  Not all areas have pick up service. 
http://www.clothingdonations.org/service.htm or http://www.vva.org/

Freecyle
http://www.freecycle.org/finder/f/books/page_1.html

BookCrossing
The practice of leaving a book in a public place to be picked up and read by others, who then do likewise. You can register your book and track its travels here!
http://www.bookcrossing.com/

Housing Works in NYC 
126 Crosby Street, NYC 10012  (212-334-3324)
You can drop off or ship books to them. They work to end homelessness and AIDS in NYC.
http://www.housingworks.org/usedbookcafe/donate.html

Bridge to Asia's book and journal donation program
http://www.bridge.org/books.html

Noteworthy

FIRST BOOK
They don't take books, but you can donate to help kids in need get their "first books"
http://www.firstbook.org/site/c.lwKYJ8NVJvF/b.674095/k.CC09/Home.htm

Add to The List!

If you know of other resources to donate books, click on Comments below and let us all know!

All the best,

Comments

[EC]

This is actually a place to swap books. It's working pretty well for me.
http://www.paperbackswap.com
You mail books out (usually costs $1.59 per book) and earn credits. Then you use the credits to request the books you want to read next, and the person on the other end pays the postage.

There are several programs that provide books to prison inmates. Here's a link to one, which has links to other programs toward the bottom of the page. Don't just send books to any of the addresses without inquiring, though. There are usually pretty strict rules as to what types of reading material each prison allows.
http://www.booksthroughbars.org/

Also, around here Goodwill takes book donations.