What to do with old books?

One of our librarians was recently moving and trying to figure out what to do with some older books. Besides donating them to a thrift store or book sale, she realized there are many creative options to give them a new purpose.

• Put books in a Little Free Library – There are tons of cute little free libraries around Madison where you can drop off a book or two. You can find out more information at LittleFreeLibrary.org. Here on campus, there is a Little Free Library on the cul-de-sac behind The Stream, and one at the entrance of the parking lot near Marshall Hall.


• Make a hollowed out book – You can hollow out an old book to store or hide things in. Here’s a tutorial on how to do that. Some people even hollow out books and use them as succulent planters.


• Make decorations – There are tons of tutorials online to make garlands or flowers to put around your house for cheap, creative decorations. You can also fold books into various shapes to make decorations for the holidays.


• Make some furniture – Many people are using old books to make lamps, clocks, and side tables. If you are very handy you can even make invisible bookshelves.