What did you do with your paper books?

[sonya]

Thom, before you finish your books store them in a plastic bin. that way no bugs can get in.

[sonya]

for now, I have my books on a bookcase.

[Kristi]

Texann wrote: "I do both kindle and paperbacks. I use book mooch to trade books/buy used to get some series and others I buy on my kindle. I can't afford to buy every book on my Kindle but I'm not a regular libra..."

Does your library allow you to borrow books on your kindle? A lot of libraries let you borrow ebooks through them. I have done this through my library. At the end of the borrowing time the books are automatically taken off your kindle so no late fees!

[Stupid Fox]

I got rid of the vast collection of paperbacks my wifey and I owned years ago for a big movie and so when we swapped to Kindle it was great to start getting our old books back. I sold the paperbacks to a used bookstore and that was that. Now we rebuy the ones we want to re-read and don't worry about owning the collection of books we'll never read again.

[Harmony]

Most of my books are in e-format, but I do have some paperbacks .. It's nice to have my favourites in both ;-) in some cases the PB's were actually cheaper than the eBook...go fig. Also, for me, there's something magical about a real book in my hands that an electronic one cannot imitate :-)

[Andrew]

The only paperback of which I've disposed since buying my Kindle was The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, simply because having an electronic version of a book about an electronic book was far too cool for me to resist.

The book was donated to a mate.

[Benjamin]

Waiting on my shelf to discard. Waiting till I see a book drive and remember to donate em. Havent read a dtb since there became a such thing as a kindle. Dont really get the idea of collecting dtbs unless its like an original E Poe or HP Lovecraft or something. Nothing printed in last 50 years is ever going to be worth anything, too many copies made.

[NancyInWI]

I swap mine on Paperback Swap. I have lots of books on my Kindle Paperwhite, but still prefer holding, reading and turning pages of a real book. I have a bookcase full of books waiting to be read.
The only reason I have a Kindle is when on vacation, I don't have to lug books with me.
I'm not one to keep books once I've read them.

[Vicki]

One of the nearby local libraries had ZERO budget for the coming year. It was considered a non-essential service, though people went to the library for many reasons (computer job searches, etc.). I donated a ton of books to them and asked others to also. The library was thrilled and shelved the books for readers.

Not all libraries do. Some sell them. But considering their budget cuts, they need the money and as an author and a reader, I want to support them...

[Kayla]

Where I'm from, paper books are very expensive. So what we used to do was borrow books from others. Or the library, and occasionally get new books (maybe one we really liked or was anticipating). My aunt actually had a library so I borrowed most of the books I read from her. However these are all older books. My kindle now allows me to get all the latest books for much less than I would get where I live. This is awesome. In the last 3 years since my husband (then boyfriend) bought me my first kindle, I have doubled the amount of books that I've read. I'm 27 and have been reading leisurely since I was about 12. So that says a lot.

[Dan]

Sharon wrote: "I have loads of paper books that I have yet to read but want to and so I was wondering, when you got your Kindle did you rebuy all your paper books in Kindle version, or did you just go for differe..."


I read the kindle versions first and if I really like the book, I would end up buying the physical copy as well. I guess I am bit paranoid and feel like I am missing out when I don't buy the physical book like similar feeling when download movie on iTunes vs. buying the DVD with all special features. Also, I love the feel of physical books and the feel, the original book text and look of the artwork on the book covers which is something ebooks can not fully emulate.

[S]

I kept them. Still read them even though I have several e-readers

[Ann]

I kept most of my paper books, but donated a few tired paperback classics (i.e., public domain) & replaced them with free or low cost ebooks.

I like getting both Kindle & paper copies of nonfiction I intend to highlight or make notes in -- feels less destructive to do this to a Kindle book.

[Mariel]

Looks like this thread has been inactive for some time, but I had to get rid of my paper books due to space constraints. I donated two rooms of books to the library.

[LocalPeanut]

We started a LITTLE FREE LIBRARY on the street corner. Its a box of books that resembles a little house where we put in free books for people and they are free to drop off their own books too. Its never without books so that may be from all the KINDLES and Nooks in the neighborhood. If you get yourself registered, your Little Free Library can be shown in a web site which shows all the locations of these mini Libraries all over the country. And a lot of them are really pretty and creative little 'boxes." Just keep em waterproof!

[Ann]

Melissa wrote: "We started a LITTLE FREE LIBRARY on the street corner. Its a box of books that resembles a little house where we put in free books for people and they are free to drop off their own books too. Its ..."
What a great idea. We have one of those a couple of streets away from us. Good for you!

[Erin]

I've got a couple of paper books that I want to get for the kindle. I like reading on my kindle, but I still love paper books.

[Kathy]

I've got rid of piles of books since I got my kindle (to various sources: friends, charity shops, libraries etc.

However, what the kindle can't replace is big art books or books with a high picture content. Even now there are some things need hard copies to truly appreciate them. Its just a pity they take up so much shelf space and weigh an absolute tonne when you move house.

[Jeanine]

What did I do with my paper books? I'm a Book Addict it is hard for me to part with books I like. If I know I don't want the book then I pass it on. If no one wants a book it becomes art journal fodder.

[Helen]

I'd got rid of one's that I'd had for years and hadn't read. I also got rid of my penguin classics. This month, I shAll now have to buy two ex books for reading groups!

[Mary Pauline]

I still have more paper books over electronic and still buy some in paper. As I read them, some paper books are donated to the local library group. Some are kept and some are being set aside for bookcrossing. I am looking into starting a Little Free Library but cannot seem to get a definite answer from my town regarding needing permit. Mostly all magazines are now purchased by me in electronic format, mainly because there are so many more titles available to me.

[[deleted user]]

Because I've moved around so frequently over the years my tiny remaining collection of paper backs provide nostalgic décor in my latest - hopefully last - home.

[[deleted user]]

Mary Pauline wrote: "I still have more paper books over electronic and still buy some in paper. As I read them, some paper books are donated to the local library group. Some are kept and some are being set aside for b..."
Here in the UK vast quantities of paper backs are donated to charity shops that line many shopping streets these days. All for good causes.

[Cozy Beauty Reads]

i gave mines away to goodwill and kept only the books i want to read or really liked.

[Toni]

I still read paper books as well. When I finish with paper books I will probably not re-read, I trade them in at our local used book, CD, DVD, etc. store for trade credit in order to acquire more books :-)

[Mystereity Reviews]

I donated that a ton of books to a local senior center.

[Robert]

I love the look of a full bookcase, so I hoard my paperbacks, treating them like extremely thick wallpaper.

[Mical]

I gave my books to the community center.

[Rowena]

I donate them or garage sale or Half Price Books. I keep the ones I like but I'm not one to reread them. Sometimes I let friends borrow them to read.

[Peter]

I donate them to charity shops, always. I like to pass the pleasure on!

[D.J.]

Robert wrote: ".. treating them like extremely thick wallpaper."

That's a good one. Extremely expensive wallpaper at that!

[Kate]

Every time I move, I seem to get rid of more and more books. For the most part, I took them to Goodwill or Deseret Industries. All that remains are the books that have emotional value for me: the Gone With the Wind inscribed by my mom, who has now passed, the first edition Harry Potters, the Great Gatsby with notes from high school and college, etc.

[Megan]

I only just got my Kindle a few days ago, but I'm going to keep all of my books and buy new books for my Kindle. I may donate the ones I absolutely don't want anymore, but there are very few that fall under that category.

[Yvonne]

I donated most of my print books. I prefer to have all my books as ebooks now.

[Jonathan]

I still do the majority of my reading using physical copies; my bookshelf is dangerously close to being filled and I have several boxes under my bed which are virtually overflowing with paperbacks.

Megan wrote: I may donate the ones I absolutely don't want anymore, but there are very few that fall under that category"
This is the predicament I'm in; I wouldn't consider myself as being overly materialistic or stingy, but I really can't bring myself to throw away or donate many of my books.

[sonya]

I would donate many of my books to a goodwill truck or salvation army store

[John]

I still have all my paperbacks/hardbacks...and still lots of them unread.
I tend to get new books on Kindle now, though, unless I see the Kindle copy is much more expensive than a used paperback that might be available...

[Alla]

I´ve kept all of mine. I pass them around to friends. Since I live in Iceland there are not many people reading e-books because you can´t have any Icelandic books on Amazon. You can buy other reading devices here and we have Icelandic e-book company, but they are selling there e-books at the same price or even more expensive than paperbacks. So most people just keep buying paperbacks or hard-covers.

[Gina]

I list some on Paperback Swap or put them in several Little Free Libraries that have sprung up around my little town.

[Darlene]

Even with a Kindle, I don't often part with my paper books, unless there's one that I didn't really like. The good ones, I keep!

[Lilac (Gemma)]

I kept most of my collection just the ones I spent loads of money on and if I really like a book I will buy it as a book.
Mostly I get most books on my kindle apart from my last few I have brought The Cockoo's Calling and The Silkworm

[Lynne]

I continued to read my paperbacks and still buy them on occasion. The ones that I've finished and don't want to keep, I donated to the local VA hospital. They were thrilled to have books for the veterans.

[Natalie]

I am actually the other way around. Since getting a Kindle- I get far more ebooks than I do paper books. But- if a book is really good- I will buy a paper one to keep in my bookcase. Honestly- using a bookcase for knick knacks seems wrong to me. :D

As for the paper books I picked up that weren't good enough to be a permanent part of my personal library- I donated those to the library in the hopes that maybe someone else will enjoy them.

[Carol]

A Kindle and a paperback are both just means to the same end, i.e. reading a story. Would never get rid of one just because I have the other.

[Donald]

Maybe ten years ago, I was traveling across country via Greyhound when I finished a cozy mystery I was reading. At a stopover, I saw an older lady traveling with her granddaughter, asked her if she liked mystery novels, and she said yes so I offered her the book. Funny, at first she was almost offended and said she couldn't/wouldn't buy it; it took me nearly five minutes to tell her no, I was GIVING it to her - passing on a good read to another lover of books.

I've done that ever since. Long before owning my first Kindle two years ago, whenever I finished a book I'd bought, I'd give it away to someone I thought would enjoy it. Just a quirk of my own, of course, I never re-read books because my TBR list is already longer than I'll ever live to see the end of ... but it's always just felt really good inside to "pass it on".

[Carol]

That's lovely, Donald.

[Da'Kharta]

Sharon wrote: "I have loads of paper books that I have yet to read but want to and so I was wondering, when you got your Kindle did you rebuy all your paper books in Kindle version, or did you just go for differe..."

For me, getting books via Kindle is a tester of sorts. If I like the book enough, I buy the paperback/hardcopy since I prefer the feel of paper.

[Donald]

I download the sample onto my Kindle, and if that sparks me (or it's a writer I like) I buy the book for Kindle. Nothing like being able to walk around with an entire library of books in your bag, at your fingertips when you want them. I agree, NOTHING can replace the feel - or even smell - of a new book, but like everything else in life it's a trade-off; also, as I was giving books away after reading them, anyway, it seemed naturally to only buy for Kindle ... unless we're talking a book with loads of illustrations or photos (have also heard, for instance, that the novel "Night Film" must be bought in hard-copy form; the way it's laid out, with illustrations and/or photos, what have you, is supposedly not at all conducive for an e-reading device.

[Gary]

I also use the ebook to sample as many new authors as I can afford.
If I enjoy a new author I go hunting for the paper or hard back versions of his/her works.
I read bunches and I love to try new/unknown authors (at least to me ;-). The ease/price of the ebook makes this possible for me.
Also the point about illustrations, pictures, etc is spot on.
I have hardback books that I would never part with, they are almost like family.

[Mariel]

Due to downsizing our house, I donated them to our public library. We sued to have a "library" room of our own. If space wasn't an issue, I'd have kept them and set up another in-house library. Even with a Kindle, I still love paper books.