Is your bookshelf too crowded? Tips on what to throw away and what to keep! Where is the best place to sell or donate old books? Here are some clever strategies to finally organize your books.
The great myth: Books should not be thrown away
For many book lovers, parting with their books is unthinkable. The love is unconditional. The books have accompanied and shaped you in important moments. And they look so insanely chic on the bookshelf and let you look educated.
As a professional organizer, I see it a little differently: I see books that are squeezed into the shelf because there is not enough space. I see stacks on the floor accumulating dust. And worst of all: books that are standing in the second row, so that you can’t even see the titles at the back. And probably never will reach for them.
I think it’s a shame when books haven’t been looked at for years or even decades. What a waste when they sit unread on the shelf for so long. Instead, they could have made another person happy.
When is the right moment to declutter books?
- If you have space for a whole library in your country estate – fantastic! The rest of us have to look critically at the bookshelf when new books no longer fit in.
- Before a move! Because on the day of the move, you are happy about every box you don’t have to carry. More tips on decluttering before the move can also be found here.
- If you want to live more minimalistically, it can be liberating to declutter old books.
Which books can you really throw away?
Old manuals and non-fiction books that are simply outdated. Nobody wants “Windows ’95 for Dummies”, even for free. Technology is evolving. The big old lexicons and dictionaries can be found on the internet.
Upcycling books
If you are creative, you can cut out the pages of beautiful maps from old atlases and use them as wrapping paper. Beautiful photos or art prints can be cut out from illustrated books and framed or used for collages.
The step-by-step guide to decluttering books
It’s best to take all the books off the shelf to declutter. It can’t hurt anyways to regularly take out the books, dust them off and wipe the shelf.
Now take each book individually in your hand and decide:
- Did I like this book?
- Will I read it again?
- And if the decision is really difficult: Would I buy this book again today?
Then place the book on one of the two piles: “Keep” and “Give away”.
But I always wanted to!
Of course, when decluttering, you also come into contact with your own negligence. There’s the novel you’ve wanted to read for five years – but never did. The foreign language you wanted to learn – but never did. Well, people continue to evolve. With new phases of life, the textbooks, formerly beloved youth books or certain genres might no longer be important to you.
The decluttered books can make space for… well, for space. Or for non-fiction books on your current interests or a new exciting crime series.
But travel guides!
You were in Canada 15 years ago? 12 years ago in Sardinia? And 9 years ago in Cape Town? How beautiful! Keep the memories and the photos, but the guidebooks are now outdated. The prices are no longer correct, the restaurant and hotel tips are outdated. And are you really planning to travel there again soon or are you heading for new destinations? And will you then perhaps be more inspired by travel blogs, Instagram and Google Maps?
But Goethe & Schiller & Shakespeare!
For some, a large, full bookshelf seems to symbolize the ideal of the educated middle class: Look, how well-read! I’ll tell you something: Your teacher won’t come to your home and check whether you still have Goethe and Schiller or Shakespeare on the shelf. If you don’t happen to be a big fan of their work, you hereby have permission to let their books go.
But it was a gift!
You’re hereby allowed to declutter gifted books. As well as inherited books. If you’ve never read it or don’t want to read it again, now is the time to pass it on.
Where to sell discarded books?
Here comes the truth: the market is oversaturated with used books. Think carefully about how much time you want to put into the sale in order to get a few euros in the end. Exception: Expensive text books are sometimes worth selling. Here are some recommendations if you live in Germany.
- www.momox.de If the book is in good or very good condition, you can sell it on Momox. Via app or PC. Enter the ISBN code and we will tell you whether the book will be accepted and at what price. Usually 1-2 euros are offered. So this is especially worthwhile if, for example, you sell 50 books at once and then receive around 50 – 100 euros for them. The postage is paid by Momox, you will receive a free shipping label.
- www.kleinanzeigen.de With Kleinanzeigen, you can sell books in your city or with shipping.
- www.vinted.de You can also sell books via the second-hand app Vinted.
- Flea market: Can be especially fun together with friends. But many visitors are looking for cheap bargains, so offset the stand fee and the effort.
Where to donate discarded books?
I usually prefer to donate books. Because it’s faster and easier and leaves a nicer feeling than bargaining for a few euros when selling. You can donate books in Berlin at these locations:
- Oxfam Shops: They accept books in good condition that are still relevant and put the proceeds into charity projects. In Berlin-Schöneberg, there is even an Oxfam shop just for books.
- NochMall: In Berlin, you can also donate books in the great second-hand department store of the BSR.
- Public bookcases: They are sometimes housed in old phone booths and you can put in your own books and take new books with you. Here is a list of public bookcases in Berlin.
But beware: Nobody wants to have a “Windows 95 for Dummies” in these places, either.
Note: Most public libraries have little interest in book donations. They already have a carefully selected stock and the processing of book donations is time-consuming for the staff. Some libraries accept non-fiction books and fiction published in the last two years.
Where to give away old books?
- After decluttering collect your old books in a box. Friends and relatives who come to visit are allowed to reach into this box and take a few books home with them. What a beautiful way to give a little joy!
- Or you can take a picture of the books, send the photo to your favorite contacts and anyone interested in a book can get in touch. Also works well among colleagues or fellow students.
- Out to the street: The books will be made available to even more people if you put them on the street in good weather. You can find my instructions here.
Even more tips for a better organization of the bookshelf
Do you find it quite exhausting to declutter and get rid of books? With these tips you can avoid accumulating too many books:
- Borrowing books from the library saves money and you can easily return them.
- An eBook reader can store entire collections of books. By the way, you can also borrow eBooks from the city library.
- Books can be exchanged well among friends or family. Especially current bestsellers that everyone wants to read right now. Sharing is caring and most books are only read once. And otherwise just borrow again!
Do you also want to tidy up your books?
But you don’t know where to start?
Then you can make your first Professional Organizing appointment here: Contact
Christin Köppen
Professional Organizer in Berlin