Disposing of unwanted books

Please check with the Library to make sure you aren't discarding any material which would add to our stock, but we do have severe storage problems, so don't be surprised if we politely decline your offer. We can no longer afford to keep material "just in case".

Here are some alternative options:

  • Local schools may welcome textbooks to broaden the range of resources to which they can refer students. Your Liaison librarian and the Partners team may have specific contacts with schools, or you could ask at your local school.
  • We give all our unwanted stock from the Library to Better World Books. They advertise them for sale on the internet and send all the funds raised to support literacy work in developing countries. If you are a member of university staff you can donate books to this scheme via the Recycling team.
  • Education Aid collects books in UK and sends them to schools and universities in poor countries. Their website also lists many other similar contacts.
  • Book Aid International send books and journals to developing countries [but Jan 2008 are not accepting any more books, journals may be different]
  • Medical books which are in good condition and less than 7 years old can be left in the Walton Library. They are sent on a regular basis to a medical school in Namibia.
  • You can post a message to Lis-link offering your books to other libraries across the country.
  • Beamish Museum may be interested in local material.
  • Local second hand booksellers may be interested in specific materials but will rarely take everything.
  • The Oxfam shop on the corner of St Thomas Street in Newcastle will also accept books for resale in their bookstores - ring them to check before taking books there.
  • Oxfam in Jesmond has just opened a specialist book shop on St George's Terrace (they have a book deposit bin opposite).
  • Freecycle (or Freegle) is another way of disposing of unwanted books and other items - just join your local group and offer the books - there is nearly always someone who will come and collect them from you! See http://www.uk.freecycle.org/