Too many books

Our village library is community run and for a long time we were getting no new books from the central library at all. We started an independent book loan and are always really grateful for good quality books we can add to our stock.

Do you have an EMMAUS community local to you? They took all the books we needed to part with when we downsized.

They even collected them because I bought a small wardrobe from them so their delivery charge included picking up the books and various other things we needed to shift.

I too am going to have to have a book cull, mainly paperback crime/thriller type. Charity shops can get innundated to the point where they don't want anymore, but hospitals are often glad of some, as are local independent hotels, just don't present them with a mountain in one go, as storage can be a problem!

Or of course you could list them on your local Freecycle?

Deep in an unreachable part of our garage I have several boxes of books which have sat there since we moved in 17 years ago. In fact unbeknown to DH I am replacing some of the ones I can't get at via ebay I also have several plastic sacks full of books that belonged to my aunt. One day I really will get in there and sort them out (Honest!)

As a retired librarian, could I just make the point that reference books need to be up-to-date to be useful. Obviously depending on the subject matter: history perhaps OK, science probably not. Just a thought. When showing schoolchildren how to use the library one of the first tests is to see when the information was published. Worth bearing in mind.

You can never have too many books.

When we moved house we got rid of about a thousand books. They went mainly to Oxfam and some to the tip. We still have far too many.

Thanks for those suggestions.
They must go, because we are not getting any younger and face downsizing in the next few years. I have said I'm not taking the books down and putting them all back, only to have us do it again in a few years.

Thanks for the Oxfam suggestion. They are collecting the books for me, so they will go to a deserving cause.

Is there any sheltered schemes near you that have a communal lounge with a book shelf that the residents can borrow books from. Theres one where I am and all the books need replacing.

Oxfam have an on-line site so sell all over the country.
What about approaching local school, some still have libraries. Or even the public library, if you still have one. They have no money for new books and might appreciate donations of hardbacks.
But why do they have to go? Can't the bookcases be incorporated in the new setup?
Anyway, there is no such thing as too many books!