LPO Clutter Scavenger Hunt 3

Welcome to the Laurel Plum Online Clutter Scavenger Hunt. If you missed the explanation post, take a minute to read about it here.

I love books. They are one of my biggest addictions. So for me, they are one of my biggest clutter monsters. I recently read an article that defended book collections. I TRULY understand. My favorite outings are to the library and local bookstores (and office supply departments). I typically have 3 to 6 books in progress at any given time. And I am too chicken to join the challenge at The Simple Dollar (well as far as books are concerned – I can think of other things to put on moratorium). I love books.

When I read a book, I usually know if I want to read it again or keep it as a reference. But most do not make the cut. So why should I keep them on my shelf? If I am pretty certain I will not read it again, that book IS clutter. What’s more, I feel my keeping it makes me a little selfish and wasteful. Books, like plants, should be shared.

So for today, I want you to find a stack of at least 10 books that you know you probably will not read again. (Remember, you should not touch the ones that do not belong to you.) Make yourself determined to let these 10 books go. I am not going to ask you to throw them away, I want you to release them to further use in the world.

We have several ways that our family passes our books along. We give them to friends and family. We donate or give our books away. But there are a couple of websites we have found that have added immensly to our reading hobby.

Paper Back Swap

The site we most frequently use is Paper Back Swap. It is a book exchange. You sign up for free and make a list of 10 books that you are willing to share. You automatically get some credits. You use the credits to order books from the millions of books others have listed. Another book lover gets the request and mails it to you. You get a free book. Then when someone wants a book you have listed to share you will receive a request. You mail the book (you pay the postage using media mail) and you receive another credit to order another book.

I have found this to be a really economical way to get books. On average, I pay $2.50 postage for the individual books that I mail out – so essentially I am paying $2.50 per book I want. I usually paid $4 for a book at my local used book store. I have been able to keep up with my choices from the best sellers lists (which are normally not available in used book stores for a while) that would cost at least $10 anywhere else I were to get it. Occasionally I don’t want to wait (Harry Potter series anyone?), and will order from Amazon or a local chain. But unless it is a new release title I am highly anticipating, I can get the books very quickly from Paper Back Swap even though I have to wait my turn.

Paper Back Swap has guidelines for the condition of the books that are allowed to be posted. So most are in pretty good to almost new condition. There is a section on the site for forums. Books that are considered to be “unpostable” can be listed in a special forum called the “Book Bazaar”. The Book Bazaar is also the place to pick up or post deals. I have seen deals from 2 books for 1 credit up to 12 for 1.

Book Crossing

I sometimes have a book that is “unpostable” on paper back swap. Sometimes there are so many copies of a book availble that I want to find another way to share the book because I want to try to keep my library a specific size. Book Crossing is a fun way to let those books go. Through Book Crossing, I register the book and label it with it’s own special code. I insert a bookmark that has instructions on it into the book.

I live in a college town. I take the book to the campus, a local coffee shop or numerous other places and simply leave the book where it can be found. Then I log into Book Crossing and update the release information. Others users in the area can try to be the first one to the book. When anyone finds the book, they go to Book Crossing and type in the books unique code deeming it to be “caught”. It is kind of fun to track a book and see how many times it is released and how many places it shows up.

Other Ways to Share

If you would like to pick up a little cash for the books, you can always list them on e-bay, Amazon, or craigslist.

Your local library will often accept donated books to add to their collection or to sell for additional operating funds. You can look for other local charities such as literacy programs and shelters who will use the books or sell them for much needed cash.

There are other swap sites available in addition to the ones already mentioned specifically for books. Then there are sites where you can list almost anything. Freecycle for one, is fairly well known, but there are probably several others in your area. If you do a search for “swap” in Google, there are 91,000,000 results. Keep adding location or item descriptors until you find a few specific swaps that will work for you.

Sort of a Disclaimer

I have already commented that a book that is not loved being in your home is clutter. It is up to you to determine if you have too many books and need to reduce the number of books in your home. Some of these sites will not lower the amount unless you work at it. Some will actually help you to increase the quantity of books you have available, if you are not careful. Tomorrow I will have a post on the details our family used to reduce the number of books we have and how we keep our library a specific size.

Your Books

If you already pass your books on, I would love to know how you share. If you use any of the swap sites including the ones above, let me know what you thought of the experience. And if you have a book that you would like to recommend, let me know that, too. I’m always looking for a good book to read.