don't you dare throw those books away!
By chulce
@chulce (1537)
United States
January 20, 2010 10:17am CST
Today at work, I got so mad. Many of our program departments have been re-organizing and making changes. Which is wonderful, however, this of course involves cleaning stuff out and finding it new homes.
One of our offices had a ton of books that they wanted to get rid of, so they set it in our public library for a day and let others go into the boxes and take what they want. With my love of books, I jumped at the opportunity. However, I didn't want to be greedy. I wanted to make sure that others had the opportunity as well. I took 4 to start off with. Today, after I arrived at work, I found out that the books were going to be thrown away or taken to recycling. I got so mad. I went through the books once again and managed to rescue 4 more.
I just wish other people in our offices would have taken advantage and also took the books. I suggested that the books be donated to one of the charity thrift stores in town, I hope that is what actually happens with the books and they don't end up being thrown away.
If you find books please help rescue them... Don't let them go into the landfill. These are a part of our history, someone's hard work. Yes, granted there are probably a lot of copies still out there of those books, but still. I think if we all find another use or purpose for the books, it gives them new life.
Have you ever rescued books?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@soulist (2985)
• United States
6 Feb 10
I always try to rescue books instead of throwing them away. I cannot stand seeing a good book get thrown away. If I don't want to read a certain book anymore I donate it or take it to half priced books which buys back books to resell. It helps them have more books to sell and helps me get rid of books I didnt like and save some money. While I wait i look around and find some good books. I like going to the library and seeing the older books they set out for people to take and I have a few from them.
@chulce (1537)
• United States
6 Feb 10
Sorry about the late response. Life has been a little hectic lately. So of course that means putting certain things off.
I am happy to see that there are a lot of people that believe in protecting books. It amazes me though how many people don't care one way or the other. Many of the books that people don't consider are those that are a part ofhistory, books that won't ever get published again, books that still tell a story about something that has either happened or came from someone's imagination. Although it may not have done that well on the market, it is still a book and still to a creative person to create it.
@SharonFANG (17)
• United States
1 Feb 10
Yes,l like reading ,also i like books.They cantain a lot of things and are not only some papers.Sometimes we want to protect them, keep them even though we have no time to review them.
@chulce (1537)
• United States
4 Feb 10
It is good to protect the books. In many cases with books there are some that have only had a few published. This makes them rare finds. It really bothers me that there are people out there that don't consider this.
I think of the many authors before us, that have put their pen to paper and wrote, then had their books published. When they had their books first published, it took a long time to just print one book. Thanks for your comments.
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
20 Jan 10
That makes me sad too. I would have donated the book or given them to Half Price Books. Half Price Books at least attempts to sell the books or donates them before they consider recycling them. But never just throw a book away. That's worse than burning it. If something's in good condition than there's no reason that someone else can't use it.
@chulce (1537)
• United States
28 Jan 10
For some reason my response didn't post to you. Sorry about that. I must have missed hitting the button or something.
I agree with you donating the books is a much better solution. Sure the materials are recyclable, however, what about the people that can't always afford to go out and buy those books.
@shutupandbuyit (221)
• United States
7 Feb 10
I sell books online and am always hunting down estate sales or craigslist for people who are throwing books away. Any condition, any reason...just let me haul them away is what i usually tell the would be thrower away of the books. My largest haul was two years ago when a local library was closing down, and because of federal budgets and donational money issues - I ended up the unwitting rescuer of just under 35,000 books. I didn't have to restock my inventory of textbooks or paperbacks for over a year due to that find...
@wickedlove (326)
• United States
20 Jan 10
I hate throwing out anything that has a value to it. It depresses me. Even with clothes, if they are in good condition I will donate them to the salvation army before throwing them away. Old blankets go to the animal shelter, and books are sold at flee markets, or donated to other places.
@chulce (1537)
• United States
20 Jan 10
It truly amazes me when I see people literally throwing money away like that as if it were nothing. I understand that we all have a lot of material belongings and it is good to find new homes for the items especially if they are still in good condition, but to just throw them away like that, it really amazes me that people don't think or if they do, they don't realize what they are doing.
@cintoy (1011)
• Indonesia
27 Jan 10
I rescued some books that i am eager to read such as computer books and english books.
They are just too precious to be thrown away or even being recycled. We can't find another book just the same with the one especially the old books. And even if we do, why do we need to throw away and buy them again instead of saving them?
it just doesn't make sense to throw away books that is useful for us.
even my college books. I ever thought of disposing them before. Fortunately i didn;t and it does come in handy now as i am preparing researches and i need references from books. If i buy another books, it should be costly. if i go to library to borrow the books, how many can i borrow? moreover i have the obligations to return them. what a waste of effort.
@chulce (1537)
• United States
28 Jan 10
I'm glad I'm not the only one that hung on to some college books. One of the books I have we found out that our oldest son will need for one of his college courses. I was shocked that the book is still being used. The copy we have of it, was done in the early part of the 80's I guess we will see if there are any differences. He is going to talk to a buddy of his and see if he can borrow his version and compare it to ours.
