Conference moira::parenting

    Rose,
    I don't have any suggestions, I just know how your daughter feels, I
    was the same way growing up.  Lucky my parents never moved so getting
    rid of my books was never a problem.  When I got married, I boxed up
    all my old books and stored them in a huge closet.  When my husband and
    I divorced he got rid of the books on me and now that my daughters are
    old enough and love to read, I really wish I had my books to pass on to
    them.  
    
    There are so many memories tied into books, maybe you and your daughter
    can work out some kind of compromise.....
    
    Good Luck,
    Roberta

    
    
    Rose,
    
    Maybe you should give her the responsibility of picking out which
    ones to give away.  I did this with my son and his stuffed animals.
    He didn't want to give any away until I told him to just go through
    them and pick out the ones that he had not played or slept with 
    in the last year.  We ended up with 2 garbage bags full.  After
    I wash them, they are going to the local pregnancy center.  
    
    We have also donated books to the pregnancy center.  Also, you
    may consider a local battered women's shelter.  They house
    a lot of kids there, too, and books could be just the escape
    they need for a while.
    
    Another idea is to give them to your local public or school
    library.  The possibilities are endless.
    
    But, make sure your daughter is ready to give them up.  You 
    don't want to create resentment - at 13, girls can get pretty
    upset with their moms!
    
    Pam 

    
    I second the school library .... they never seem to have "enough", and
    then your daughter might even come across them again here and there ...
    Maybe let her write her name in the ones you give away??  She might
    think that's neat!
    
    -Patty

    There is a non profit private school in Northboro, MA called Oxford
    Academy. You could try them. And I believe since they are non profit
    you could take the tax write off as well.  ;)
    

    We just went though this.  We spent years acquiring books at yard sales
    and through book orders, but my girls are only reading chapter books
    now, so all the other books were just taking up room.  They chose their
    absolute favorites (signed by the author and special gifts) and kept them.
    The next tier are ones they want to have for the long term ("for my kids").
    These we stamped with our name and are giving to a good friend with kids 
    age 3 and 6 months.  I figure that we'll have another option on them in 
    about 10 years.  And the rest are going to a local church yardsale.
    
    If she has a younger cousin who could use them, she could defer giving
    them all the way away for now.
    
    Or if some extra incentive would help, she could sell them at a yard
    sale (or here!) and recycle that money into new, more appropriate books
    or clothes, or music, or whatever she's into (that you support, of
    course!)
    
    If her school would accept them, maybe you can arrange for (or make)
    some "donated by" bookplates from her.  (One of my daughters would be
    totally embarrassed by this, the other would go for it)
    
    

We regularly purge our bookshelves and give them to the
local library.  They are very happy to get them; the ones
they don't need, they trade to other libraries.  Occassionally,
they have a sale.

One other note - we are bookworms too.  It is tough to give up
"friends" like that.  Could you compromise on some reasonable
number that can go with her?  Particularly if she will be
changing schools...

Pat

    RE: giving them to the library
    
    Better check your neighborhood.  I've been told that my local library
    usually "does not except" book donations.  Got me as to why, but that's
    their policy.
    
    Irene

    Doesn't hurt to ask.  While our library doesn't accept all books for
    the library itself, used books are accepted for the Friends of the
    Library sale each year.  It still benefits the library, and I believe
    is tax deductable.  Also community colleges, small schools, etc often
    accept books, magazines, etc.  you could also try girl and boyscout or
    other youth group headquarters if you have crafty or camping type
    magazines.
    
    meg

What about hospitals etc?

\Chele