We'll always be honest with you: some books just don't have resale value. That doesn't mean they're garbage — it means the market for them is saturated or nonexistent. Here's what falls into this category, and what to do with them instead of throwing them away.
The "Not Worth Selling" List
Reader's Digest Condensed Books
The single most common "are these worth anything?" item we see. Billions were printed. Nobody collects them. They're attractive on a shelf, and some crafters use the pages, but resale value is effectively zero.
Encyclopedia Sets
Encyclopaedia Britannica, World Book, Funk & Wagnalls, Compton's — we wrote a whole article on this. The short version: no, with very rare exceptions for pre-1800 editions.
Book Club Editions
The Book-of-the-Month Club and Literary Guild printed millions of copies that look like "real" first editions but aren't. Check for the small square indentation on the back cover — that's the giveaway. Worth $1-3 at best.
Outdated Non-Fiction
Technology books from 2005. Travel guides from 2012. Medical references from the 1990s. The information is obsolete, and nobody buys them.
Severely Damaged Books
Water damage, mold, missing covers, insect damage, heavy smoke smell. Even valuable titles lose most of their value in poor condition, and common titles in poor condition are unsellable.
Most Mass-Market Paperbacks
Common titles by common authors in standard printings. A mass-market paperback of a John Grisham novel is worth $0.25-0.50 at best. Notable exceptions: early printings of books that became classics, or genres with dedicated collectors (vintage sci-fi, pulp crime).
What to Do Instead of Throwing Them Away
Please don't put books in the trash. Even books without resale value have purpose:
- Donate to the New Mexico Literacy Project — our 24/7 drop box at 5445 Edith Blvd NE Unit A accepts everything, any condition, any time. Books get redistributed to readers, schools, and community organizations.
- Little Free Libraries — Albuquerque has dozens of these neighborhood book-sharing boxes. Fill one up.
- Craft supply — old book pages are popular for journaling, collage, decoupage, and art projects. Offer them free on Facebook Marketplace to local crafters.
- Recycle — as a last resort, books can be recycled with mixed paper. Better than the landfill.
Bring Everything — We'll Sort It
Here's the easiest approach: call or text us to schedule a drop-off. Don't try to sort "valuable" from "not valuable" yourself. We'll look through everything, pay you cash for the books that have value, and donate the rest through NMLP. One trip, one stop, everything handled.
Call or text 702-496-4214 or just drop by the warehouse.