What did you do with your paper books?

[Lahni]

I know DTB must mean physical paper books but what does it actually stand for? I haven't been able to figure it out.

[Sandy]

Lahni wrote: "I know DTB must mean physical paper books but what does it actually stand for? I haven't been able to figure it out."

Dead Tree Books

[Lahni]

Sandy wrote: "Lahni wrote: "I know DTB must mean physical paper books but what does it actually stand for? I haven't been able to figure it out."

Dead Tree Books"

Thanks. That would have taken me a while! :)

[Ann]

Lahni wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Lahni wrote: "I know DTB must mean physical paper books but what does it actually stand for? I haven't been able to figure it out."

Dead Tree Books"

Thanks. That would have taken ..."

Sorry, I've become an e-book snob!

[Terri]

I donate to the library to collect for a book sale every three months.

[Elie]

Very active Bookmooch user. Great system. Give a book and you can get a book. I know it doesn't clear out the books, but the Kindle isn't great for ALL books. I'm a lot choosier about paper books now with my Kindle. And it is a great feeling to know with Bookmooch, my books are going to an appreciative person.

[Deb]

I also use paperbackswap

[Terri]

Elie wrote: "Very active Bookmooch user. Great system. Give a book and you can get a book. I know it doesn't clear out the books, but the Kindle isn't great for ALL books. I'm a lot choosier about paper boo..."

Me too. I do bookmooch also .

[Elie]

Haven't tried paperbackswap. Bookmooch has been about as fair a trading system as I've seen anywhere (wish videogames had something as good as BM).

[Kathy]

I could never get rid of my paper books! As much as I love my Kindle, it will never replace paper books for me. Plus as Grace said earlier, any books I consider "keepers", if I didn't already have them in paper form, I have to buy!

[Kimberly]

I sold and gave away most of my paperback and hardback books. It was difficult to part with some, but living in a humid climate helped make the decision. Books often get moldy or mildewy here.

I still have some bools I have not read and as I read them I then give them away.

[Randy]

I still have them. I still love paper books, and they look great in my apartment.

Besides, I love them so ...

[lifewithshaza]

Well I have managed to sell a few books on Amazon, but recently I have been reading paperbacks, and enjoying it but I think it is only because I am still awaiting my Kindle!

May 20th hurry up!

[Ginger]

I still have my paperbacks...gave a few to a friend (those I didn't want to save). If I come across one I have on my Kindle as well as on my shelf (and it's in good condition), I'll donate to the library.

[Ginger]

I guess I should add: I almost always save my hardbacks! They are expensive & if I don't have room on my bookcases, they are stored in a plastic air-tight tote to prevent any damage.

[Bj]

I would love to get rid of all my paperback books, but I just can't seem to get myself to do it. Of course I want to keep the ones I haven't read yet hoping eventually I can pick a paperback up again, but I am not sure when that will happen. I don't ever see myself buying anything but e-books in the future.

[Chrissy]

Books that were my absolute favorites or series I am keeping, as well as autographed books. The others I am probably going to donate. If they have been sitting on my shelf for years and I haven't read them yet I probably won't. Kind of like my bad 1-click habit I have for free books, I used to go to borders and shop at the 3 for 2 table.

[Ginger]

Bj wrote: "I would love to get rid of all my paperback books, but I just can't seem to get myself to do it. Of course I want to keep the ones I haven't read yet hoping eventually I can pick a paperback up aga..."

I understand completely, Bj! I also won't give away any paper books which were given to me as gifts. I always write in the front of them who gave them to me & for what occasion.

[Ginger]

Someone (not sure who or if they are in this group) mentioned that she donated a bunch of books to disaster hit areas. She sent hers down to Louisianna after Hurricane Katrinia hit. I thought that was an excellent idea.....people who are hard hit by disasters can probably benefit from being able to "escape reality" for awhile by reading a good book. Just sayin' :)

[Chrissy]

Ginger wrote: "Someone (not sure who or if they are in this group) mentioned that she donated a bunch of books to disaster hit areas. She sent hers down to Louisianna after Hurricane Katrinia hit. I thought that ..."

Love that idea! Someone also posted something about sending them to the troops overseas.

[Ginger]

I love that idea also...does anyone know who or how we could get in touch with someone to do this?? I'm thinking maybe the Red Cross for diaster hit areas, but not sure who for the military.

[Gail]

Over the years, I've given many of my hard cover books to libraries, also some paperbacks. Most paperbacks I've either exchanged at a used book store or given away.
Of course, my shelves still hold all those books I plan to reread one day.

[Gail]

Sharon wrote: "Thank you everyone who is has replied, it has certainly made for interesting reading. I have a number of paper books that I really do want to read, but I feel I may get them in Kindle version if I..."

Sharon, since I purchased my Kindle several months ago, I've only bought two books in print. I believe the Kindle was made for travelers and loungers alike!

[Helen]

I didn't for one minute think that I would ever get rid of my DTBs, I thought I'd just buy one off reads on my Kindle. Just one month down the line, I've put books on green metropolis to sell and like someone else find myself scrolling paperbacks for word definitions!

[Lisa]

I have sold some to make money for charity. Some I have given to friends and family. Others that I cherish (especially hardbacks) I have kept, and I still have some to read!
My library have recently asked for good quality paperbacks & hardbacks, due to cutbacks and I will be donating to them too.

[Agnes]

I have some but gave most away and asked them to pass them on to others when finished. We also have a staff library where alot of them ended up.....

[Agnes]

Kirei wrote: "I've always been giving my books away. That is the reason we got a kindle. Limited space for books."

Yes, hubby is happy that my books are not all over the house....one book - my kindle....but many within...

[Riley]

i just now buy books by my fav authors insted of randomly buying like before, i think i'll always love a good paperback

[Helen]

I thought I'd carry on buying my favourite authors but now am not sure, I'll let you know when something gets published.

[Angela]

I keep my favorites and put the rest on the swap. I still read alot of paper books.

[[deleted user]]

I plan on keeping all of my physical books, I still have quite a few that I want to read, and don't plan on getting Kindle versions for those that I haven't read yet. Since I've only had my Kindle for 3 months, it's only natural that I use that to read for the most part, but I still love to go down to the local used book stores and find paperbacks that I need for my collection. I also have a thing for cover art, particularly old sci-fi/fantasy novels, and have picked up multiple copies of books just to have the different cover art versions.

[[deleted user]]

I'm not sure yet, I have only had the Kindle a few months, but reading this thread is very interesting, I have to admit, I did try to read a "real" book in bed the other night, but did not enjoy it at all. I am starting to think selling them is a very good idea, after all one of the reasons, I wanted a Kindle is space.

[Mark]

I've still got mine, much to my girlfriend's dismay. I could not get rid of them, as I will always love the feel and smell of books. Was does a kindle smell of? Of course there a lot of charity shops and bootsales.

[Betsy]

Jackie Renee wrote: "I was reading a paperback book a while back and caught myself moving my finger down to the controller to look up a word. My Kindle has spoilt me. "

I've done that. Then I got a smart phone and discovered the dictionary apps. So whenever I have to read a paper book, I make sure my phone is nearby.

[Paul]

I have all my paper books inside a glass-fronted wooden book cabinet, with a small hammer attached to the cabinet by a chain. In case the internet crashes and burns, I'll just break the glass.

[Helen]

Paul, what are you like! It did occur to me that an electro-magnetic pulse could destroy my kindle and then I'd need paper books!

Wonder if you can spray kindles with perfume so they can have a smell...

[Paul]

Yes, don't throw away the paper books. Also, reading glasses and spectacles, salt away extra copies.

[Betsy]

There is a classic sci-fi novel, Lucifer's Hammer about an asteroid strike and the post-strike recovery. One of the characters, before the destruction, takes a number of books, seals them in a waterproof bag, and buries them in a safe place. Thus, after the destruction, he will be able to retrieve the books and have access to some knowledge very critical to the recovery of civilization, like how to build a house or a small dam or grow vegetables.

That was my favorite part of the book, and one of my favorite what-if games has been imagining what books I would save if I had to choose.

[Paul]

Interesting. I can't imagine living in a world without books.

[Betsy]

I know; I can't either.

[Paul]

Jackie, yes, I saw that one. Never got over that. It could explain why I have readers all over the house. :)

[Jeanie]

What would I do with them? I keep them - and continue to purchase new ones. Sometimes I buy both the paper and the Kindle edition of the same book. There are some books I prefer in one or the other format. If it's something I want to be able to reference easily, I like the "real book" copy. If I want the convenience of taking it with me, I like the Kindle. No reason it has to be one or the other!

[Helen]

I bought a kindle copy of Name of the Wind rather than re-read my paper copy, plus I could travel with it. Now I'm wondering whether to re-buy my George R R Martin books for ease of use!

[Betsy]

I've done that with some of my favorites -- the ones I re-read again and again. I haven't decided yet whether to get rid of the paper editions, but I probably will. After all, some of them are getting pretty tattered.

[Ashley]

I had a similar discovery when watching Jericho with my boyfriend. I looked at my kindle and thought about if anything bad happened and the power was out for awhile, I wouldn't be able to charge it.

It was then I decided to not get rid of any of my books. Plus, when I really thought about getting rid of some of the more sentimental ones, it was too much.

I have many of my favorites on my Kindle and in physical book form. But now I don't have to travel with an extra suitcase!

[Helen]

Betsy and Ashley I feel like you've justified my spending!

[Betsy]

Glad to be of service. ;-)

[Jane]

I kept my books,(there are many) I'm trying to read them in between reading my kindle books. Going to try to slowly reduce them as I read them, my hubby says they take up too much room and he bought me the kindle to save space lol!Its hard not to buy any more though...i'm drawn to book shops and stalls with books on..I'm addicted ! :)

[Helen]

I really didn't think it would take over my reading, I thought it would be an expensive whim. Used for one off reads that I wouldn't want to own, totally wrong.

[Ashley]

Helen wrote: "Betsy and Ashley I feel like you've justified my spending!"

Yes! Glad to justify book purchasing and er...book hoarding! ;)