Old textbooks

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Med-Surge, PACU, now Hospice.

Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do with my 15 yr old text books (besides using them to build forts for my kids!). We cleaned out bookcases today and I've got a pile. Was going to throw them out, but didn't know if there was another use for them.

Thanks

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

35 years from now they'll come in handy for a good laugh (you would not believe how nursing has changed over the past 35 years and that will only continue) if you have the room to store them somewhere. When you're kids are grown up and have grandchildren they can probably sell them on e-bay for a nice profit.

Seriously, never throw away textbooks. I have purchased some old nursing books from the Goodwill and enjoyed browsing through them and then donated them back to the Goodwill.

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Specializes in Med/Surge.

Hi,

what I would do first is check the ISBN number on Chambal.com and see if they are selling for anything.

If they are too heavy it may not be worth your while to sell them because it will cost too much to mail them.

Some people post their books on Paperbackswap.com where you can get credit and exchange for other books.

Or donate them to your public library. They sell them for a dollar or two and it helps fund a lot of their extra programs.

I hope this helps.

PurpleMyst

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.

I sure wish I had my 1964 Fundamentals of Nursing textbook. Some of the things it it were classics.

Woody:balloons:

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Specializes in Government.

I just got rid of my 20 year old nursing text books. I've got a small house and I'm not sentimental. I hadn't opened them since I graduated. I'll share my experience although it might not be yours:

1. No resale value.

2. My local library was NOT interested.

3. Goodwill was happy to take them and told me that medical and nursing texts are of interest to their customer base. They may get a dollar or 2 for them.

For me, it was just all about clearing bookshelf space for things I actually do use. Good luck!

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Specializes in Med-Surge, PACU, now Hospice.

Quickbeam - I'm with you. I think I've opened my textbooks maybe 3 or 4 times since graduation. I did keep the pathophys. and the maternal child texts. I figure most of what I would need will be available on the internet - and will be more up to date that what I've got.

I thought there was a company or someone who would collect them for nursing schools in poor nations.

Thanks for the responses.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

The Goodwill, Salvation Army, and other reputable charitable organizations will give you a tax deductible receipt in exchange for donations (which include old textbooks). It's a win-win situation for both parties involved. You receive a small break on your taxes, and get to enjoy less clutter at your home. The charitable organization gets to sell your donations at any one of their thrift stores, which results in more funds for their noble causes. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I would probably take them to the library or a donate them to a local charity. At first, I was going to say to keep them, but, this is how people start hoarding; they think of all sorts of reasons not to throw away things that no one will use, even themselves. I just paid a cleaning company to throw away over 30 bags of junk and I will not ever let that happen again. Many posters gave good suggestions. If you are unable to get rid of them in any of the above ways, just throw them away. Old history can be looked up on the internet.

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On more than one occasion I have seen the info on organizations that collect these books for use in developing nations, unfortunately I have never written down the info. I intend to pass mine along to one of these organizations the next time I come across the info. I do believe, though, that one was required to ship the books to whatever address was given. I'm not too big on paying to ship the monstrosities.

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Like the above post stated, take them to the library. I was you can sell list them on Ebay, but I do not think you going to get much for me since they are over 10 years old.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
Like the above post stated, take them to the library. I was you can sell list them on Ebay, but I do not think you going to get much for me since they are over 10 years old.

Once they get old enough you will make money off of them on ebay it just depends on whether or not you have the room or inclination to save them that long. I've purchased 25+ year old nursing books from ebay and found them very interesting.

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Specializes in ob; nicu.

I finally cleared my shelf after 10 years and used them for campfires.

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