What do you do with your books?

[Armie3]

You read them, obviously, but after that...?

Do you give them away, or throw them out? Do you put them on your shelf to gather dust? How do you decide what is worth keeping? Are you really going to re-read all of the books you save?

[spiderdj82]

I have 2 used bookstores near me so if I decide not to keep it, I take it to one of those places and get credit to use on new used books. 

[artscallion]

I have both a used bookstore and a public library near me. So I usually take half to each. This way I'm helping both folks who may not be able to afford books, as well as small business owners.

[dramamama611]

I read ebooks.  No need to decide.

[Armie3]

That is such a good idea. I need to get shot of boxes of books. They may be real pretty hardbacks, some even signed by the author, but do I really want to lug them around for the rest of my life? Spoiler : No!

I know some people take pride in displaying all their "impressive" library, but just the other day I was touring somebody's home who had shelves of beautiful books, but I would say two thirds of them looked pristine and unread. What is the point?

[BPfan81]

As long as I can afford a space for them I keep them. I have donated very few to my local library, like some books on the music business that are now outdated. I'm sure the library recycled them. Most of my personal library consists of autobiographies, art history and architecture - books that weigh 10 pounds to say the least. I can't part with those. I also have started to collect children's books from various authors like Eric Carle, and children's books by singer/actors like Bernadette Peters. I am hoping to have kids one day soon and share it with them.

[dunebuddy]

I am an avid reader and generally will save my books.  I have a four section book shelf in my office which is filled.  As I finish a new book I will go through the shelves and remove an older one that I wasn't too fond of or know I will not read again and replace it with the new book.  As I fill a box with the removed books I will donate them to our local library, senior center, or used book store.  I know that I will be moving to a smaller place within the next couple of years and will have to make some hard decisions about what I want to keep. No matter where I go, however, I will have book shelves.  Certain books will come with me no matter where I relocate - Roots. The Warmth of Other Suns, anything by my favorite author John Boyne.

[sabrelady]

Kinda the same Dunebuggy. I see my books as old friends, some I visit w more often and others, well, they have given me what they had and it's time to move on. On both sides. I still buy occ hardcovers & paperbacks but most of my books are now on Kobo or Kindle. When I do winnow I usually donate to my old university which does a big fundraising 3 day book sale.

I was looking at Neil Gaiman's house in Wisconsin- that is a library!

https://io9.gizmodo.com/5352953/take-a-peek-inside-neil-gaimans-library/

[Dollypop]

In our community we have "Little Free Libraries" which are larger than the average rural mailbox and placed In parks, playgrounds, beaches and bus stops. These are stocked with discarded books and the public is free to take what appeals to them. I just weeded out my bookshelves and put about a dozen books in some of the LFL's near my home.