The Hartford College for Women library is currently examining all options available for dismantling their traditional book and journal collection. The circulation statistics are very low, as the library is used primarily as a quiet study space. The library on the main campus is much better suited for the few students every semester who need to do research. They have better resources and can offer longer hours because they have a much more substantial budget. The plan is to convert the space currently used as stacks, into an electronic classroom. The college currently only has one electronic classroom, which is the most requested room on campus. We have discovered a few solutions that will keep the majority of books from just being thrown in the dumpster. However, due to a major mildew problem in the lower level of the stacks, many of these books are now worthless.

Scrap Paper Dealers

There are various recycling plants around the United States who will buy books for the paper. The average scrap paper price as of March 18, 2002: $100.14 per ton. The price is determined by the economy.

Used Book Dealers

A good deal of the books at the Hartford College for Women library are very old, and still in extremely good shape (with the exception of those contaminate with mildew). We have found a number of used book dealers who will comb the stacks looking for “gems” they feel they can sell. The used book dealer we prefer to use is Jumping Frog Books of Prospect Avenue in Hartford. They have always given us a very fair price for the books they have been interested in.

Bridge to Asia

This non-profit organization is run by Folletts book stores. Materials such as college, graduate and professional books and journals, dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs, atlases, glossaries, thesauruses, test-preparation booklets, maps, college catalogs, maps, charts, sheet music, CD-ROM programs, audiocassettes, conference proceedings, and newsletters are sent to schools and universities in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Mongolia. Books must be packed in boxes, and shipping costs to the U.S. distributor are covered by the person donating the books. The donations are tax deductible.

United States Book Exchange (USBE)

You can either send them a list of the materials you have available, and they will let you know what they want. They will pay the shipping charge. Or, you can just box everything up and send the materials to them. In the later case however, they will not pay for shipping costs. What ever materials they feel they can not sell, they will sent to libraries that need them around the world. They will send you a small stipend for whatever they keep.

Schools / Daycare’s / Correctional Facilities

Many schools, daycare’s and correctional facilities welcome donations, especially those with limited budgets for frills such as books. A few phone calls to local officials and agencies can usually help determine which groups need materials.

Book Sales

Though book sales can be a huge drain on a librarians time, they can sometimes prove to be quite profitable. Also, library boards and oversight committees feel they are worthwhile, as it brings money back into the library. It also many times means the books are saved from that fateful trip to the dump.