Books make a great companion. However, like any long relationship, it takes efforts to keep it going and strong. Admit it, you tend to ignore them when it comes to their upkeep. A great collection that took time and efforts to build up could end up in unkempt mess and a sorry physical state. Definitely not a welcome feature for your book collection that could contain many a fond memory. Instead, try donating the books.

Donating your books can be done in a number of ways.

1. Donate locally: Books can be donated at the local libraries. However, these days many libraries do not accept such donations. Still, it is possible to find one in your neighbourhood that accepts books in donation. Usually books in electronic form such as audio and video CDs, tapes, videos, or DVDs are preferred.

2. Through various websites: A number of websites deal with book donations.

The following is a list of some such websites:

JustGive: You can get information about the places where you can donate almost anything, including books, for a charity.

BookCrossing: This unique site encourages making books available to anyone interested in reading it, by following a pattern wherein a book is left in a public space for anyone to pick up and read. Your books could thus find a better way to get into circulation and actual reading, than their present solitary confinement.

PaperBackSwap: You can mail the books here and get credits that you can use to get the books you want. Usually a book is charged a little over $2 for the postage. The details are available on the website.

There are other helpful sites as well that support book donating, such as Freecycle, Craigslist, etc.

3. Through various programs: Certain organizations run programs that accept books as donations as part of their charity drive. The following programs are helpful if you want to donate your books for a good cause:

FOLUSA: These days FOLUSA is seeking donations to restore the libraries in hurricane and other natural disaster-hit areas. The books to be donated could be shipped to FOLUSA, the contact details are available on the website.

Vietnam Veterans Association: The additional benefit of this organization is that it provides a pick up and delivery service as well. Of course, this service is available in certain areas only and the maximum number of titles you can donate at a time are limited. They also have a system to collect such books on a monthly basis.

Housing Works in NYC: Primarily, this site works for homeless people and AIDS patients in NYC. You can send your books to this group.

Through book-donating charity NGOs: These organizations accept old or new college, graduate or professional level textbooks or study material in English that are provided to the needy students. You can find out more information on the Internet.

Books Through Bars: You can donate your books to prisoners through this program. It is necessary to make sure the kind of reading material you are donating is acceptable as per the regulations of the particular prison.

Donate your books if they have become more of a liability than an asset. Make way for your hitherto unwanted and isolated collection to bring delight in someone else's life. Help spread the light of learning and warmth of reading pleasure.