Are Books Dying Out

[nailit]

Posted a few days ago that I was thinning out my book collection (as my flat resembles a library and id like it to resemble a home again..) Managed to offload a couple of hundred novels to a local market trader who deals in those sort of books. However have got a couple of hundred encyclopedia/reference type books advertised on the net as a job lot and only asking 20 quid for the lot. Havnt had one offer. Still got boxes more to sort yet as well. In addition, my reading group that I attend once a month is now talking about going all kindle. I don't have or want a kindle, I like a book to be a flaming book, not an electronic device. I also recently donated some furniture to a charity, when they came to pick it up I offered them a few boxes of books. They refused to take them (ironically, some of the furniture I donated included book cases!)

Doesn't anyone read books anymore?

[Old_Geezer]

Books are as popular as they ever were as far as I am aware. But a couple of hundred at a time is only going to appeal to traders. Encyclopaedias go out of date. I have loads of books cluttering up my attic from a late uncle. I'm told charity shops don't want them these days as they get offered too many. I'm loath to destroy books. So they sit there. (I ain't likely to have enough time left to read them all, and read more magazines these days , if I'm being honest.

[pixie374]

I have loads and loads I just can't bring myself to get rid of. I was very against getting a kindle for ages, because I thought it wouldn't be the same- and I often fall asleep with a book in my hand. But i like it now- just too much choice!

[Old_Geezer]

)

[pixie374]

My friends used to run an area of The Book People and they were starting to diversify as only schools were really buying any amount of books.

[Tilly2]

I do but i have started buying them from the local Salvation Army charity shop. I take books in and buy some more. I don't have a kindle or any electronic device with books downloaded on to it. I like to put my feet up on the settee and settle down with a proper book.

[nailit]

I look like sticking them on freecycle...
Just don't want to chuck them.

[DTCwordfan]

Print books are on the way back up, Kindle sales down apparently......

How about a car boot sale and sell them on an individual basis, nailit?

[nailit]

Same here Tills...

[paddywak]

I've got rid of loads by slowly filtering them into the local charity shops every time we go down town we get rid of a few. Trouble is I'm not allowed to go myself as I'm liable to bring back more then I get rid off.

[Buenchico]

Last year sales of 'consumer' printed books (i.e. excluding things like academic titles) ROSE by nearly 9%, whereas sales of 'consumer' eBooks FELL by 17%, as people turned away from reading text on screens:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/apr/27/screen-fatigue-sees-uk-ebook-sales-plunge-17-as-readers-return-to-print

So the market for printed books is extremely healthy.

[Barmaid]

I left every single one of my books at my ex's. I miss most of them :(

[nailit]

DTC, I used to do car boot sales and couldn't sell books for love nor money, just wasn't worth the humping boxes to and fro on the off chance of selling a couple for 20p here and there. Selling them individually might make more sense tho but ive got hundreds (if not thousands) to sort out yet.

[maggiebee]

I had quite a few reference type books. The usual charity shops weren't interested, but the Oxfam book shop took the lot. Worth a try.

[Mamyalynne]

If you know anyone into crafting then some books can make lovely projects, especially the outdated type.

One here...

https://thriftyrebelvintage.com/2014/11/how-to-make-book-angel.html/

[nailit]

I don't actually mind giving them away as long as they are not going to get tipped. I used to work in a charity shop and I know how many books (and other goods) get tipped. Rather give them to someone who can either use them themselves or at least sell them on.

[zebo]

I like my Kindle for reading in bed or for taking away on holiday instead of taking valuable space up with books. The problem I find with the Kindle is that I spend ages flicking onto the internet site to look up things from the book, words, people, I drive myself mad! As for books, I am looking at one of our bookcases chockablock, a lot of it out of date non-fiction but as has been said, I can't throw them out, they just collect dust.

[Georgiesmum]

I love the feel of a proper book i dont want a kindle, to me its just not the same. I have enough books here at the moment to start a mobile library, and I love it. I swop books all the time with my friends, who are always eager to take them off my hands.

[nailit]

cool link there Mamy ;-)

[maggiebee]

Ooh that's lovely Mamya - my daughter's a crafter so will pass this to her.

[Tilly2]

My local Oxfam book shop sells greeting cards made with illustrations from books on the front of the card.

They make them in the shop and they are lovely, especially the Winnie the Pooh ones.