I need cheap books, and I mean REALLY cheap
January 3, 2018 6:48 AM
I work in Psych and was tasked to replenish activity items for 7 units. After buying all of these items, it was brought to my attention that all of the units are low on reading materials as well.
I already went over budget and had to pay out of pocket for stuff, but I really want to try and buy some books for the patients anyway. Other than eBay and Amazon, are there any other websites that might charge a flat shipping fee and have cheap books? I already went to some thrift stores, and plan to go back, but was curious about any websites out there. I'm really hoping to keep it under $50, but I know that is probably a overly lofty goal. Any help is greatly appreciated!
I already went over budget and had to pay out of pocket for stuff, but I really want to try and buy some books for the patients anyway. Other than eBay and Amazon, are there any other websites that might charge a flat shipping fee and have cheap books? I already went to some thrift stores, and plan to go back, but was curious about any websites out there. I'm really hoping to keep it under $50, but I know that is probably a overly lofty goal. Any help is greatly appreciated!
New Year's is a pretty good time to get people decluttering. Could you hold a book drive with friends?
posted by pseudostrabismus at 6:53 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by pseudostrabismus at 6:53 AM on January 3, 2018
Check local libraries that may have a stock for book sales. I bet for a good cause they'd open their stash.
posted by sammyo at 6:53 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by sammyo at 6:53 AM on January 3, 2018
Are you in a place where people may be having garage/yard sales? That might be another place to look. People are often more motivated by getting rid of the books than by making much money from the books.
posted by lazuli at 6:58 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by lazuli at 6:58 AM on January 3, 2018
If you're looking for reading copies (i.e. cheap paperbacks), you should be able to get them for free. I'm a book dealer and have given away literally probably 10,000 books in the last five years. Used paperbacks, especially mass market pbs, just aren't worth anything. Ask around at local book dealers, tell them what you want them for (i.e. not just for yourself), and they may be happy to give you boxes of overstock that's just in their way.
posted by crazylegs at 6:59 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by crazylegs at 6:59 AM on January 3, 2018
Are there any used bookstores you could ask? Mine regularly gets donations along with actual trades, so I often have books that are in good shape but don't have the shelf space for or don't think will sell well, etc. I have a person who comes every week to chat with me and then relieve me of books I'm not using to pass along to the VA on his trips there.
posted by Gymnopedist at 7:00 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by Gymnopedist at 7:00 AM on January 3, 2018
Yeah, I would ask around and see if any of your friends are mid-new-year's-decluttering and/or would like to donate. (If you by any chance just happen to be in Pittsburgh, I just filled two boxes of books to give away, and would cheerfully give them to you.)
Depending how quickly you want to get this done, and if you live near any colleges, you might find a student organization willing to spearhead a book drive as a service project once the new semester's underway.
posted by Stacey at 7:02 AM on January 3, 2018
Depending how quickly you want to get this done, and if you live near any colleges, you might find a student organization willing to spearhead a book drive as a service project once the new semester's underway.
posted by Stacey at 7:02 AM on January 3, 2018
Check local libraries that may have a stock for book sales. I bet for a good cause they'd open their stash.
Seconding this. Try to call or email a library manager or Friends coordinator rather than just dropping by. Books sales are generally run by volunteers, so whoever is manning the sale books may not have the authority to give discounts, etc. It is likely they have way more stock than they need and would probably be happy to give boxes of (used) books for free.
posted by slipthought at 7:04 AM on January 3, 2018
Seconding this. Try to call or email a library manager or Friends coordinator rather than just dropping by. Books sales are generally run by volunteers, so whoever is manning the sale books may not have the authority to give discounts, etc. It is likely they have way more stock than they need and would probably be happy to give boxes of (used) books for free.
posted by slipthought at 7:04 AM on January 3, 2018
Nthing ask around.
Do ask used bookstores – when I lived in Eugene, Smith Family (a big used bookstore) had an entire back area with free books that you could access if you asked. There were several hundreds of books.
posted by fraula at 7:06 AM on January 3, 2018
Do ask used bookstores – when I lived in Eugene, Smith Family (a big used bookstore) had an entire back area with free books that you could access if you asked. There were several hundreds of books.
posted by fraula at 7:06 AM on January 3, 2018
If you are willing to share your location, I bet you could get even more help. There is a recycling center near me, for example, that has an area devoted to free books. That is amazing and I love it.
posted by Bella Donna at 7:12 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by Bella Donna at 7:12 AM on January 3, 2018
I live in Richmond, VA. Thanks so much for the suggestions so far!
posted by Fullofcrazy at 7:21 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by Fullofcrazy at 7:21 AM on January 3, 2018
Book Sale Finder is a great resource for finding library and other book sales.
posted by gennessee at 7:26 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by gennessee at 7:26 AM on January 3, 2018
If you're looking for reading copies (i.e. cheap paperbacks), you should be able to get them for free. I'm a book dealer and have given away literally probably 10,000 books in the last five years. Used paperbacks, especially mass market pbs, just aren't worth anything. Ask around at local book dealers, tell them what you want them for (i.e. not just for yourself), and they may be happy to give you boxes of overstock that's just in their way.
This, this, THIS.
A good friend runs a used bookstore here in St. Pete, and he is always giving books away to a good home (prisons, hospitals, etc). He has more than he can handle at any given time, and I am sure your local used bookstores are the same.
Walk in, introduce yourself, explain the situation, and offer to carry them all out to your waiting car, and I bet they will hook you up.
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 7:28 AM on January 3, 2018
This, this, THIS.
A good friend runs a used bookstore here in St. Pete, and he is always giving books away to a good home (prisons, hospitals, etc). He has more than he can handle at any given time, and I am sure your local used bookstores are the same.
Walk in, introduce yourself, explain the situation, and offer to carry them all out to your waiting car, and I bet they will hook you up.
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 7:28 AM on January 3, 2018
I'd look through the garage/yard sale ads on Craigslist, find some that have a lot of age-appropriate books (either by reading the text or messaging some of the larger ones), and offer to come pick up the leftovers.
Of course, it's winter now, so there may not be a lot of those...
Another idea: find children's resale boutiques and put up a sign asking for donated used children's books.
posted by amtho at 7:43 AM on January 3, 2018
Of course, it's winter now, so there may not be a lot of those...
Another idea: find children's resale boutiques and put up a sign asking for donated used children's books.
posted by amtho at 7:43 AM on January 3, 2018
Post on Craigslist.org/wanted and /books, and on freecycle.net. Be specific about what you are looking for or you'll end up with old textbooks and random crap. And visit local used bookstores who will have copies of bestsellers they'll be happy to unload. Send thank you letters on paper by postal mail. A local Boy Scout, Girl Scout, sorority, fraternity, or other group ight be willing to take it on as a service project.
posted by theora55 at 7:44 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by theora55 at 7:44 AM on January 3, 2018
What kind of books and how soon do you need them? I have a ton of books in my "to donate" pile and would be happy to send them to you via media mail. Send me a PM?
posted by dpx.mfx at 7:51 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by dpx.mfx at 7:51 AM on January 3, 2018
The features or a & e department at your local newspaper probably gets review copies shipped to them all the time. They don't want them and they pile up in the newsroom. Some newsrooms already have like an annual staff sale with proceeds going to a charity or something, but it never hurts to ask. *a percentage of these will be local/awful, though
posted by Occula at 7:52 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by Occula at 7:52 AM on January 3, 2018
If you know of a local Girl Scout troop, they might want to take on a book drive for you as a Service Project. I did this with my local troop, and we were overwhelmed with the amount of books we received!
posted by heathrowga at 8:18 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by heathrowga at 8:18 AM on January 3, 2018
Most thrift stores get swamped with mass market paperbacks that they have little chance of selling. Check with some local ones to see if they want to start funneling some of them to you.
posted by Candleman at 8:37 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by Candleman at 8:37 AM on January 3, 2018
Depending on how the books would be used, your local public library might be able and willing to keep a rotating collection there that they could refresh regularly. (Or, if schedule and environment allows, perhaps a regular bookmobile visit, if that's a service your library offers.) That's a good way to always have different options available, but doesn't work as well if people are likely to want to take books they might not have finished reading home with them. You might still want to have books that could be free-to-a-good-home on offer.
posted by asperity at 8:40 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by asperity at 8:40 AM on January 3, 2018
If you're on Facebook or Twitter just post your need there, you may be inundated.
posted by mareli at 8:44 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by mareli at 8:44 AM on January 3, 2018
On Facebook, look to see if you have a local Buy Nothing or similar group. Post your need for books - I promise if there's even a 1000 person group, you'll be inundated. Nthing that there is no shortage of free books out there, people are often just so happy to get them off their hands, especially for a good cause.
posted by peacheater at 9:01 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by peacheater at 9:01 AM on January 3, 2018
Your hospital staff is probably the best way to get free books and magazines. When the call goes out that our Rec Therapy staff is running low on reading materials (usually every other month or so) then they get inundated with donations. It's a great way for employees to purge reading material from their homes and we're all pretty aware of what's popular (craft books yes, horror books nooooo.) Put up a sign identifying the drop off point, most requested themes and collection date in the employee lounges.
posted by IndigoOnTheGo at 9:21 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by IndigoOnTheGo at 9:21 AM on January 3, 2018
Definitely talk to local libraries. They do regular culls of their books and may be willing to donate some/all of the culled books to you. Libraries are also often "donated" books that are of little use to them, and they may be able to re-direct those donations to you as well.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 9:26 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 9:26 AM on January 3, 2018
It would also be worth it to check with local libraries and bookstores about any advanced reader copies they have (that are now past their pub dates). While many publishers are turning to digital ARCs, there are still plenty of paper versions sent out and these aren't supposed to be put on the shelves in libraries or sold in stores.
posted by carrioncomfort at 9:35 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by carrioncomfort at 9:35 AM on January 3, 2018
Make some contacts with local used bookstores. There's a good chance they might have books they wouldn't mind donating.
posted by drezdn at 10:04 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by drezdn at 10:04 AM on January 3, 2018
There may also be little free libraries in your area.
https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/
posted by tangosnail at 10:26 AM on January 3, 2018
https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/
posted by tangosnail at 10:26 AM on January 3, 2018
If you have/set up a bookmooch account I can give you a bunch of points.
posted by ferociouskitty at 10:42 AM on January 3, 2018
posted by ferociouskitty at 10:42 AM on January 3, 2018
Used bookstores and goodwill are places to check for cheap trade paperbacks. You can probably buy them by the box-full.
posted by Sunburnt at 3:13 PM on January 3, 2018
posted by Sunburnt at 3:13 PM on January 3, 2018
Thanks for setting up the wishlist on Amazon! I'd love to help -- I'm unsure, however:
- the list sometimes has "Last added" vs "Last purchased"
- some books have "Quantity: N" comments next to them
Are you looking for all of these books (in the quantities mentioned)? Have some of these books already been purchased (do they then disappear from the list? does "Last added" become "Last purchased"?)
Sorry for the confusion / being dense. :-) Cheers
posted by vert canard at 4:10 PM on January 3, 2018
- the list sometimes has "Last added" vs "Last purchased"
- some books have "Quantity: N" comments next to them
Are you looking for all of these books (in the quantities mentioned)? Have some of these books already been purchased (do they then disappear from the list? does "Last added" become "Last purchased"?)
Sorry for the confusion / being dense. :-) Cheers
posted by vert canard at 4:10 PM on January 3, 2018
Do you mind a bit of a drive? The Book Thing of Baltimore offers free books. You would likely need to come and get them though. http://bookthing.org/
posted by nalyd at 8:38 PM on January 3, 2018
posted by nalyd at 8:38 PM on January 3, 2018
Richmond isn't too terribly far from Baltimore. If you're up for a road trip, visit The Book Thing, one of the greatest places on earth. All books are free, FREE, FREE!
posted by Dr. Wu at 9:27 PM on January 3, 2018
posted by Dr. Wu at 9:27 PM on January 3, 2018
Oops! Didn't see nalyd's answer. Mods, please feel free to delete.
posted by Dr. Wu at 9:28 PM on January 3, 2018
posted by Dr. Wu at 9:28 PM on January 3, 2018
PaperbackSwap.com has a Books for Schools program, and since I see there's at least one summer camp on there, I'd think you could get into that.
posted by RedEmma at 11:47 AM on January 4, 2018
posted by RedEmma at 11:47 AM on January 4, 2018
Thanks again everyone! Sorry I didn't reply yesterday. I work nights and last night was pretty busy so I had no down time to respond. The numbers I put down for books is really just arbitrary. Just listing the amount that I would like in a perfect scenario, except then I got busy and didn't have time to assign numbers to those other books haha. I think the ones that say purchased means at least one copy was bought (which, thank you so much to whoever has purchased!) Hope this helps.
I'll be following up on the rest of the advice soon. My heart feels so full seeing you all taking the time to help me out. It means a lot. I hope that I may be able to get some co-workers to help donate, but it doesn't appear that there is much interest from them to go above that. But who knows, maybe in a few weeks after the holiday craziness has settled down, maybe they change their mind. But until then, it's me working on this.
So thank you, thank you, thank you for the help. I am not a crier, but this makes me do a ugly-happy cry :)
posted by Fullofcrazy at 2:12 PM on January 5, 2018
I'll be following up on the rest of the advice soon. My heart feels so full seeing you all taking the time to help me out. It means a lot. I hope that I may be able to get some co-workers to help donate, but it doesn't appear that there is much interest from them to go above that. But who knows, maybe in a few weeks after the holiday craziness has settled down, maybe they change their mind. But until then, it's me working on this.
So thank you, thank you, thank you for the help. I am not a crier, but this makes me do a ugly-happy cry :)
posted by Fullofcrazy at 2:12 PM on January 5, 2018
I have 93 Bookmooch points that I'd be happy to donate to you if you want to go that route.
posted by snakeling at 6:17 AM on January 15, 2018
posted by snakeling at 6:17 AM on January 15, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by leesh at 6:50 AM on January 3, 2018