Getting rid of books

Lots of people LOVE to keep books around. Maybe they love great literature, maybe they like to collect things, maybe they plan to read all those books again someday. Whatever the reason, books are one of the harder things to let go, but if you do manage to liberate those books you can clear out a huge chunk of the clutter in your home. Plus, you won't break your back (or bank account) if you ever have to move.

Don't get me wrong, I love books too, but I like to think that I love them enough to let them go on and be useful somewhere else, rather than condemning them to an eternity of collecting dust on my shelf. So here are some ideas to help you let those books go:

1. Set up a regular time to donate to your local library, school, or another place that could use books.
   Set up an area on your bookshelf or in a closet that will serve as your literary "outbox." As you finish with your books, put them in the outbox. When the box is full (or at a regular interval, say, once a month), gather up all the books and let them live on by letting others read them too.

2. Set up a regular time to sell your books
   Depending on your taste in books, it might be a good idea to scout out some book resellers in your area. You probably won't make a lot of money, but it's better than nothing, and it's a lot less work than having a garage sale (which won't bring in much for books anyway).

3. Make a chain reading list
   If you know other people who like to read the same types of books, make an outbox specifically for that person. Use a bag if you are going to see the person regularly, and then you can just give them the whole bag the next time you meet. If it's a friend who lives far away, get a sturdy mailing box and mail it when the box is full. You can work out with your friend if you want to receive new books in return or if you would like to be at the giving end of the chain.

4. Make a browsing shelf
   This worked well for me when I was living overseas and I had a small group of English-speaking friends. Set up an area by your front door to hold books you have finished reading. Then, every time your guests are leaving, let them know they are welcome to take as many as they like (be sure to mention that you don't want them back!).
   

Do you have any other ideas for letting books move on?