What to do with Encyclopaedia Britannica

graham58

I wonder if anyone can help. I have a full set of Encyclopaedia Britannica (circa 1986) in perfect condition including Children's Version which have adorned our bookcase since new. Some volumes have probably never been opened.
They cost £1000 which was about 30% of my net annual salary at the time ! I can understand why local charity shops don't want them but I cannot ,at present, bring myself to take to the local dump. Surely some charity or someone somewhere can make use of them. Any ideas ?

asajj

Have you tried to list it somewhere ? Collection only for some cash perhaps.

For charities, the one I volunteer for sells damaged/torn books to someone for cash. They are paid per kg but not sure about the rate. So some charities would take them. Do you have more than one charity in the area?

Also some ideas here
http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/recycling-for-charity/recycling-for-charity-old-and-unwanted-books

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/donate/donate-goods/what-you-can-donate/donate-books

Free collection from British Heart Foundation

https://www.bhf.org.uk/shop/donating-goods/book-a-free-collection

graham58

Thank you ASAJJ. I live in the country but tried the three charities nearby without success. They are all small and local. The local dump said we could put them in the bin with old newspapers but that didn't seem right ! However your post has encouraged me to try harder.... we are going to the big city tomorrow (Sherborne , Dorset ) where there are at least 5 charity shops including Oxfam so I'll pay them a visit.Failing that I'll follow up your links. Many thanks for taking the trouble to respond.

Savvy_Sue

If a specialist Oxfam bookshop doesn't want them then I'd respectfully suggest that no-one else will (although I could be wrong).

I could offer a six volume Oxford History of Music, rebound by my late father, but I don't suppose anyone would want that either.

Frogletina

You could offer them on Freegle - you might find someone who would like them.

When I moved from a house to an apartment I decided I didn't have room for them, but a friend really wanted them. So there are people out there who might be grateful for them.

I have to say, I didn't miss them at all.

asajj

graham58 wrote: »

Thank you ASAJJ. I live in the country but tried the three charities nearby without success. They are all small and local. The local dump said we could put them in the bin with old newspapers but that didn't seem right ! However your post has encouraged me to try harder.... we are going to the big city tomorrow (Sherborne , Dorset ) where there are at least 5 charity shops including Oxfam so I'll pay them a visit.Failing that I'll follow up your links. Many thanks for taking the trouble to respond.

Not a problem, I understand the feeling about not wanting to dump them to recycling

senileturtle

If no charity shop will take them, try freecycle, ebay, or donate to a local nursing home or hospital for their reading sections.

166million

A smaller person could stand on one to kiss a bigger person? Perhaps you could rent them out for this purpose?

vivatifosi

I work in a public library. The problem with the 1986 version is that it is so old, that it really has no commercial value now. There is currently one volume of the 1985 macropedia (vol 25) on sale on Abe Books. It's priced at 65p plus £1.85p&p.

graham58

Thanks for all the replies above. My wife particularly liked the kissing suggestion !I'm pleased to say that Oxfam will take them and will raise a little cash (presumably for recycling).

asajj

Good to hear that