Your room is like a library. Everywhere you look, you see piles and piles of books. They're stacked on tall bookshelves, tottering on your cabinet, and scattered on the floor. Some are standing at the end of your mattress. One time, while standing up from the bed, your head hits a hanging shelf, and a cascade of books falls down on you.

While picking yourself off the floor amidst the clutter of loose pages and hardbound covers, you have no choice but admit it: you've got too many books. Yes, many of them are useful and informative, and some of them have sentimental value for you, but maybe it's about time you rid your place of these stuff, instead of just letting them gather dust.

You've sorted out which old books you can do without. Before you put them in the trash, stop. They may be old, yellowing and cracked, but you can still put them to good use. Here are some ideas to get rid of your old books.

Make Some Cash.

If you think about it, you've spent a great deal of money on all your old books. They may be outdated and worn, but hey, you once considered them your prized possessions. Why not profit while getting rid of them? Turn your “OLD” books to “SOLD” books. Even if you sell them at a few dollars each, you can still make a bundle. Plus, you can use the money you get to start a new collection. Just make sure the books you sell are still presentable and useful.

Arrange A Garage Sale.

If you've got enough time on your hands, and a collection of junk you want to get rid of aside from books, then organizing a garage sale is a fantastic idea. Allot a day or two for the event. Put out everything neatly on tables in your yard. You can add old furniture, appliances and clothes for variety. Just make sure everything you sell works and the books are in good shape. It'll be embarrassing if a customer complains about your defective “merchandise”.

One important tip when having a garage sale: never overprice. Start at 50 cents for each book or $2.50 for six pieces. Remember, the main purpose of this activity is to get rid of the books and not to become rich. Set prices that are hard to resist, so your sale will be better.

Sell Them Online.

Many transactions today are done through the Internet because it's quick and reliable. If you want an easy way to sell books, put them online. Many book-buying websites will eagerly purchase them from you at a reasonable price. Those with too many books on their hands even make this a part-time business, because selling excess books can be really lucrative.

Somewhere out there, there's someone longing to get their hands on that Stephen King classic or the Harry Potter collection you have. If you want, you can put them up for sale at an online auction site, like eBay or Amazon. You can directly transact with eager customers.

Profit From Your Schoolbooks.

You're a student who's starting another year, and you're left with many textbooks and reference materials that are in good condition, but only clutter your room. What you can do is find a fellow student who's interested to buy your second-hand books. Check bulletin boards around your campus and see if anyone has put up ads. Better yet, put up your own signs and flyers. Make a list of the titles you've got, and indicate whether the prices are negotiable or if you have a set price for them.

Be Charitable.

The rate of illiteracy goes up every day, and all over the world, millions of people don't know how to read or write, because they have never even touched a book. Why not help them in your own little way? Donate. It's great to know that you're earning money from books, but isn't it more heartwarming to know that you gave them away without expecting anything back? Besides, you'll get good karma in return.

Expand A Community Library.

When there's homework to be done, a research to be completed, or if people simply want to read, there's one place they go to: the library. Even if the Internet is readily available for these tasks, many still rely on this place to help them out. The library is a very important part of any community, but what if there aren't enough books in it?

Before you give out to other places, check first if your local library is looking for donations. They'll eagerly accept any reading material to broaden their collection. Imagine, you won't only get to share your books with one or two people, but with thousands.

When donating books to a library, make sure that they're free from mildew stains, water stains, mold and bugs. Books with these problems can affect and damage a whole collection.

Donate To A Thrift Shop.

Thrift shops are retail establishments run by charitable organizations, such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill. They take donations from citizens and then sell them at low costs. The money they generate is then used as funds to help the needy. If you've got stacks of useful books that you think other people can use, give them to these stores. It's your own way of reaching out to the less fortunate.

Give To Orphanages.

As you read a fairy tale to your daughter or your little sister at night, think of all the kids out there who have never experienced reading bedtime stories. If you have many kiddie storybooks and picture books your child has already gotten tired of, sort them out and give them away to an orphanage. Their colorful pages might not excite your kid anymore, but for another, they can bring lots of entertainment and excitement.

Wanna Trade?

You can't get enough of books, but you're tired of the ones you have. Here's one idea you can turn to: trade with other people. Trading will let you get other book titles in exchange for those that you've grown tired of. Think of it this way: you'll get to get rid of your old books and replace them with new ones. Many bookworms like this idea.

You can have your very own book swap event. Invite your friends, family members, colleagues and classmates and let everyone swap books they want to get rid of for new one.

Another option you can turn to is to trade the books online. There are websites that will allow you to trade old materials in exchange for new books. Every time you send a book to another person, you get a credit for a new book you want. This is a great idea, because you get rid of your old items, but still get what you want.

Recycling Is Fun!

Sometimes, no matter how well-maintained an old book is, no library will take it, because its contents are very outdated already. Or maybe the binding and pages are still intact, but have been written over with notes. Giving them away or selling them is embarrassing. Before you think of throwing these books, there's one option you can turn to: recycle them.

If you're feeling creative and have enough time on your hands, you can take your old books and turn them into something useful and pleasant-looking, like an altered book. This is a lovely artist's book, made from an existing book, and transformed into a lovely material. The book's binding remains, but the pages are beautified. They can be cut, torn, glued, burnt, painted on, sewn, rubber-stamped, drawn on, colored, and collaged. Sometimes, pockets, bows, ribbons, are added. Altered books are often displayed, but if you want, you can also turn it into a lovely journal.

Aside from an altered book, you can also make:

• Old book bookends – They'll keep your other books standing upright.
• Hollow book – Create a secret compartment within your old book.
• Book lampshade – You can turn a book into a clock.
• Book iPod case – Do you need a place to store your iPod? Make one using an old book.
• Lift-the-flap-book – Toddlers will love this pop-up book

If All Else Fails...

Just dump them in the trash. If your old books are ripped, shredded, stained, moth-eaten or too worn out to be sold, donated, or recycled into something lovely, you can just throw them out. Be earth-friendly and put them out with your other biodegradable materials. There's no use in keeping them inside your home anymore.

Don't let your old books clutter up your space, nor should you keep them hidden. They may not be as useful as they once were, but that doesn't mean you should disregard them. Get rid of them the right way. After you try these suggestions, maybe your room won't look like a library anymore.