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Ask Slashdot: Prioritizing Saleable Used Computer Books?

Posted by timothy on from the books-are-heavy-man dept.

g01d4 writes "I volunteer at a used bookstore that supports the local library. One of my tasks is to sort book donations. For > 5-year-old computer books the choices typically are to save it for sale (fifty cents soft cover, one dollar hardback), pack it, e.g. for another library's bookstore, put it on the free cart, or toss it in the recycle bin. I occasionally dumpster dive the recycle bin to 'rescue' books that I don't think should be pulped. Recently I found a copy of PostgresSQL Essential Reference (2002) and Programming Perl (1996). Would you have left them to RIP? Obviously we have very limited space, 20 shelf feet (storage + sale) for STEM. What criteria would you use when sorting these types of books?"

5 of 219 comments (clear)

  1. By Year... by DavidClarkeHR · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Although there are many good, reliable books that are several years old (on computer principles, logical logic and whatnot), you'll probably be better off sorting by year.

    You'll end up putting a few great books farther down the line than you otherwise would, but sorting by publication date will ensure that the vast majority of the books are still relevant.

    If you've got time, sort by quality. You're the expert, though, and your time is limited. Would you prefer something that is good enough - and done, or something that's perfect ... but not available.

    --
    - Nec Impar Pluribus, or so I'm told.
    1. Re:By Year... by sumdumass · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I might add, for the questionable books, put them in a box and list them on one of the online auctions for cheep or something- buyer pays shipping. There might be an admin out there that inherited something old and needs reference material or perhaps a kid getting a hand me down system and wants to make use of it.

      Try to make the same cash as you would selling it in store, but make sure your supervisor or someone else in charge knows about it so it doesn't appear like you are taking books and selling them on the side.

  2. Give older editions to beginners, the curious ... by perpenso · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Recently I found a copy of PostgresSQL Essential Reference (2002) and Programming Perl (1996). Would you have left them to RIP?

    When I replace a book with a newer edition I set aside the older edition. Sooner or later a relative, friend, co-worker, someone will express an interest in learning to program or learning some new area. My old K&R The C Programming Language, Foley and van Dam Fundamentals of Interactive Computer Graphics, etc all found new homes this way. Why toss out a book that someone curious might want to take a look at?

  3. Sell it to Intellectual Property Law Firms by speedplane · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Patent lawyers trying to bust patents from the mid 1990s live on this stuff. Call your local friendly intellectual property law firm and see if you can unload the whole batch. They'd probably pay much more than $1.00/book.

    --
    Fast Federal Court and I.T.C. updates
    1. Re:Sell it to Intellectual Property Law Firms by WillAdams · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Interestingly, the last copy of the PenPoint Interface Guidelines I sold on Amazon was to such a law firm.

      --
      Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.