Alternatives for Getting Rid of College Textbooks

If you are a college student of any age or academic standing, there's no doubt you've been tasked with the burden of disposing of those pesky and annoying end-of-the-semester textbooks. Will you sell them back to your campus bookstore? Will you take them to local book-buyers in the area? Sell them online? To a friend, classmate or fellow student? Which option will help you make the most money? With questions like these, it's easy to see why so many students tend to stress over getting rid of their unwanted books. But if money-making is not your concern, why not give these suggestions a try? After all, if you just want to get rid of your textbooks, you'll be happy to have them off your hands regardless.

1. Hand your Unwanted Books off to a Friend or Fellow Student Free of Charge

Before you look into selling options, consider first your fellow classmates, roommates and friends who may be taking the class you just completed. Although many college-level courses tend to update curriculums and/or book editions at the end of each semester, some remain the same.

For this reason, you should investigate your circle of friends and classmates to see if anyone is in need of your book. But remember that the majority of college students are on tight financial budgets. Many will not be willing to pay a fellow student for a book, especially if he/she can purchase the book for a cheaper price at a local or campus bookstore. So if you're merely interested in getting rid of the book, be willing to loan or completely give it to your friend with no strings attached.

2. Donate your Books to a Church Yard Sale

With the current state of the American economy, everyone is looking to make a little extra money. And churches across the nation are no different. If you're a member or regular attendee of a local church that plans to have a fund-raising yard sale, perhaps in an effort to accumulate funds for an upcoming mission trip, look into donating your unwanted textbooks to the cause. College textbooks, particularly those still in good condition, can often bring in a considerable amount of money, particularly if they include computer CD-ROMs, DVDs and/or special curriculum web site access codes. So lend your church a helping hand by offering your books as sale items. And who knows, you may end up helping a few college students who attend your church as well.

3. Offer your Unwanted Textbook to your Professor

Countless college and university professors often keep old editions of textbooks in their offices for future reference in course lecture material and as spares for students who may forget or lose their books. At the end of your semester, ask your professor if he/she would like to keep your book for such purposes. This is a great way to get the book off of your hands while at the same time helping out your teacher. Not to mention, such generosity will likely be smiled upon by your professor and subsequently place you in even better standing with him/her.

4. Donate your Textbook to a High School Teacher

Plenty of high school teachers would love to get their hands on college textbooks for use in their classrooms. Why? Previewing college-level material for high school juniors and seniors can be extremely beneficial to the students' academic development. Oftentimes teachers will give students advanced problems, equations and scenarios to solve so as to prepare them for life in a university classroom.

If you or your family know of a high school teacher who would enjoy a particular college textbook, especially one which caters to their specific teaching subject (i.e. a college level Biology book for a high school Biology teacher), consider donating the book free of charge. Even if you don't have connections with a specific teacher, you may want to go by your local high school's main office and offer the books there. You could even visit the high school you attended yourself.

So as you approach the end of the semester, don't fret about getting rid of those unwanted college textbooks. Consider these four options, especially if acquiring cash is not your primary concern. These suggestions will not only get the books off of your hands, but will simultaneously benefit your friends and/or local academic community as well.