Down sizing my library
 

I need to downsize my library and need suggestions as to what to do with all my quilting books. There is a quilting store near me and a lot of local quilters buy their books from them. The business that deal in buying/selling used books don't want them. Any suggestions? I'd hate to throw them out, but I need to downsize.

Check with your local library, community centers, adult continuing education organizations, retirement homes, schools, thrift stores, etc.

Try Facebook Market Place or Craig's List. It's a great local resource for finding and selling things. Also, check with your local quilt guild. There is often a "free" table there and your books may be used by someone who might not buy it themselves but would enjoy them if made available.

Many of the guilds in our area are getting rid of their quilt libraries. And our local public library has decreased quilting books dramatically in all of the branches.
Sadly, most seem to think everything is available on line. While there is a wealth of information on line, there is still value in a good book in my mind!

When I got rid of 200 quilting and cookbooks I took some to the library for their book sale.And I took some to the local thrift store.

You could also check a reservation. They might also take any fabric you want to downsize.

Used quilt books are hard to come by in my part of the world. There are two places I give my books to when I am willing to give them up. My University library has a "Friends of the Library" group that sells donated books to generate money for the library. The Symphony Book Fair in town accepts book donations, too. Perhaps you have those kinds of book sale events to support public nonprofits? If you go to guild meetings, that would be a great place to recycle your quilt books. It's a shame you don't have a Half Price bookstore in your town. They are all over Texas and I bet they would be drooling to get access to a bunch of quilt books. They only buy in person, unfortunately.

My guild is one that decided not to keep a library. They brought in books and tried to sell them cheaply - like $1 each - and then offered them for free - and still had books left over. I'm in the same boat as you. My shelves are full, and many of the books are ones that I needed as a new quilter but am no longer interested in. I still buy books though! And a lot of used quilt books on ebay, amazon, and etsy do get sold.

One of my guilds in Oregon had a relationship with a women's prison, teaching inmates how to sew. If there is a prison near you, they might like to have books for their library.

Or rather than throw them away, you could donate them to a thrift store. They might still get thrown away, but at least you will have made the effort.

Quilt shows in my area have table(s) set aside for free give-away items. In addition to books, there are patterns, kits, remnants/scraps of fabric. Perhaps a quilt show in your area does too. If not, ask the show coordinators if they'd be willing to set aside a table for such a purpose.

I've also downsized my sewing/quilting library. I have some books on SewItsForSale now but they aren't selling. I may try eBay. I've had good luck selling things I no longer use on eBay.

The prison is a good idea, Dunster. Years ago I knew a woman who taught sewing to local inmates. I might check on that before taking my books to Goodwill.