Sell my books, I'm off to Heaven

[Blanket Heist]

HELP!

My personal library is out of control. It is leading to a serious amount of clutter.

I have somewhere between 175-200 books.
I am going to cut it down to about 50 books at most.

Does anyone have experience selling their books?
IF SO, did you receive a decent price for the books you sold?

Also, what kind of emotional toll can I expect this breakup to take? :bawling:


Thanks for any help!

[LitNetIsGreat]

STOP! Why would you want to sell your books? Can't you get rid off something less important to make space, like, I don't know, your bed?

[Blanket Heist]

I've made the decision, so I can't look back now.


How does one go about deciding which books to keep?
I tell myself I'm going to reread every book I look at (which isn't true), so that way of deciding is out of the question.

Maybe this should be based on how my book collection will make me look to people who enter my humble abode?
For example,will keeping books by Salinger make me seem like more of a recluse?
Will keeping books by Bukowski make a cute undergrad fall in love with me?

So many questions, no idea where to start.

Does anyone out there have any experience cutting down their library?

[Virgil]

The only books I've sold was to my college bookstore when i was in college. Otherwise a used bookstore may want to buy them. I can't think of any other method, other than a yard sale.

[soundofmusic]

I have bought a few books from ebay and half.com; barnes and noble also has a used book sight. Generally, you are going to get less than $10 for a book in print; a very desirable text book may fetch up to 30-40. Don't get rid of anything you may just have read too many times or think you are "out of that phase"; most phases come back and the book is out of print. I donated, which I might add is a wonderful way to do a good deed and get rid of books, a British Lit. book to the library several years ago, I assumed I could always buy the individual works if I someday wanted copies. Now, I realize there were several writers whom I have forgotten and cannot find their names on litnet or anywhere else. They were often friends to the great writers and only had one or two popular works...I just have this slow sick feeling...Then again, my allergies are better.

[Molpadia]

If you send me a list, I'll buy some off of you!

[Blanket Heist]

After reading this (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49654) thread, I learned a few things.

1. Most Lit-Netters hope that their personal libraries blossom into something like this...
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/5157/profilesbookworml240825.jpg

2. The reality probably looks more like this...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3591/3549052839_eb9c43019a.jpg

3. I will (hopefully) be judged by the books I have in my personal library.

Conclusion:
After being 'slapped in the face' by Half Price Books today (they offered me an insultingly low price for my unwanted books), I found some site online where I can TRADE books.

My books find a good home, and I get the ones that I want/the ones that will strengthen my personal brand when people judge my collection.

Thanks for the help!

[Janine]

Blanket Heist, My friend sold books on Amazon and did quite well. It depends on the book and what condition it is in. If I were to sell my own books I would probably do so on Amazon. I got a book from my library on the explorer Shackelton and I just happened to check it out on Amazon yesterday and now I see it's selling for at least 50 bucks; some even higher with the dust jacket (mine is in good condition and has the jacket, as well)...all from the secondary sellers; it's no longer available direct from Amazon; probably 'out of print'. I would look up my best books, I wish to sell and see what they are going for. When I checked before, Amazon prices seemed higher than Ebay on some; maybe not all. You can look them up and then put them into a file called your 'wishlist'...this way you keep an eye on how high they might go at various times. I actually saw a D.H.Lawrence biography book by Jesse Chambers, his former girlfriend and I had considered buying it awhile back when it was going for a few dollars. It is now so rare I suppose that it's up to 150 plus dollars. Same is true of the "Shackleton's Way" book, I happen to buy at my public library for under a dollar. At first when I checked it seemed not worth selling, but now it appears it is....yeah! I can probably make a darn good profit. I have enough books on the subject anyway; I can spare this one, if I get a good price. It's easier to sell on Amazon than it is on Ebay. I sold on Ebay for a few years and now the fees have gone up greatly; also if it doesn't sell you still pay fees; with Amazon you list it and if it doesn't sell in a month, from what I understand, you don't pay anything. It's a pretty darn good deal if you have the time to list them. It's easier and faster to list them on Amazon than on Ebay, too. Good luck....I can sympathise....my books are taking over my room...I look like the second photo you posted!

[papayahed]

I use paperbackswap.

[Mathor]

I understood the point you were trying to make, but isn't that the fun of REAL libraries? As horribly inferior as they might be to our dream libraries, they are the most honest. You will be surprised how much you will enjoy having those old throwaways years from now.

[Scheherazade]

You can always donate them to your library or a local hospital so that others benefit from them too.

:)

[JuniperWoolf]

I suggest a bonfire! :cool:

Give 'em a good old viking funeral.