books and other things
This was not how I envisioned starting the new year, but after battling bouts of depression at not having my favorite books readily accessible for re-reading, I finally cleared out our largely unused bookshelf. Largely unused because it's filled with old text books and technical books that have not been opened in ages and are simply gathering dust.
In the midst of it all, I unearthed some memories both old and bittersweet. Letters tucked in on borrowed books with no way to tell who it's addressed to. Papers and exams with my brother's handwriting. Books my college friends were kind enough to lend me when I got left behind in my studies. Sometimes I still miss them and wonder how they're doing now. But I'm not proud of what I've become or rather what I haven't become and so I largely stay under the radar. This is partly why I still don't have a facebook :)
But I digress. I don't know how to judge the value of a book and since some of these are old textbooks, I wonder if they would still be of any use to anyone. The general elementary and high school books maybe? Or would they be too outdated to be of any merit? And what of the technical in nature, like Turbo Pascal 6.0 or the Principles of Financial Management?
I have also accumulated several second hand or former library owned hardbound novels of the Nora Roberts and other persuasion because they were cheaper than the second hand paperbacks. I had hoped to sell these for cheap but I doubt they'd be marketable especially with how heavy they are.
Then there are some old books of dubious value like The X-Files Book of the Unexplained Volume 1 and The Death of Superman.
I would be perfectly fine with donating these all to whoever wants them but with this diverse mix of genres I am doubtful of any one institution that will benefit from getting them all.
I also have half a mind to offer these up for a donation sale to Red Cross to help the families hit by Sendong. With all my finances currently tied up with clearing out my debts, I can't afford to donate otherwise even if I wanted to.
If I were to think big, I'm sure a lot of people have books lying around they could donate to the cause. Yet the thought of the time and energy, not to mention massive organization skills this doubtful scheme would entail leaves me all but disheartened even before I've even begun.
So friends, I need your help to put me in touch with people who may be able to get some movement on this. Or people who know people who you think these books should go to. I know there are plenty of places looking for books, I'm just not sure these are the books they need in their library. I'm hoping to get some leads on this and will do my best to meet you part of the way. At the very least, where to haul books for recycling (like school handbooks etc). Left with no other option, I may just end up free cycling them.
In the midst of it all, I unearthed some memories both old and bittersweet. Letters tucked in on borrowed books with no way to tell who it's addressed to. Papers and exams with my brother's handwriting. Books my college friends were kind enough to lend me when I got left behind in my studies. Sometimes I still miss them and wonder how they're doing now. But I'm not proud of what I've become or rather what I haven't become and so I largely stay under the radar. This is partly why I still don't have a facebook :)
But I digress. I don't know how to judge the value of a book and since some of these are old textbooks, I wonder if they would still be of any use to anyone. The general elementary and high school books maybe? Or would they be too outdated to be of any merit? And what of the technical in nature, like Turbo Pascal 6.0 or the Principles of Financial Management?
I have also accumulated several second hand or former library owned hardbound novels of the Nora Roberts and other persuasion because they were cheaper than the second hand paperbacks. I had hoped to sell these for cheap but I doubt they'd be marketable especially with how heavy they are.
Then there are some old books of dubious value like The X-Files Book of the Unexplained Volume 1 and The Death of Superman.
I would be perfectly fine with donating these all to whoever wants them but with this diverse mix of genres I am doubtful of any one institution that will benefit from getting them all.
I also have half a mind to offer these up for a donation sale to Red Cross to help the families hit by Sendong. With all my finances currently tied up with clearing out my debts, I can't afford to donate otherwise even if I wanted to.
If I were to think big, I'm sure a lot of people have books lying around they could donate to the cause. Yet the thought of the time and energy, not to mention massive organization skills this doubtful scheme would entail leaves me all but disheartened even before I've even begun.
So friends, I need your help to put me in touch with people who may be able to get some movement on this. Or people who know people who you think these books should go to. I know there are plenty of places looking for books, I'm just not sure these are the books they need in their library. I'm hoping to get some leads on this and will do my best to meet you part of the way. At the very least, where to haul books for recycling (like school handbooks etc). Left with no other option, I may just end up free cycling them.