ASM Online Member Community

As I approach retirement, I wonder what to do with MY technical book collection including many ASM Handbooks. 

I assume you keep a few if plan to consult any at all.

What have others done? 

I myself am nowhere near retirement so I'm in the "book acquiring" phase rather than the "book unloading" phase but I've gotten many of the books for my own personal library from used book stores that people have donated/sold their libraries to. Half Price Books is the specific chain near me that I've trawled the most but I'm sure there are many options. Kind of like donating old clothes to a second hand store, this gives your old things a place to go where they can be put to use and gain new life, rather than just sitting in a box in the basement or going to the trash. You could alternatively donate them to a library, or to other interested ASM members (cough cough).

One of the great things about metallurgy in my opinion is that, while of course people are still innovating in the field, a lot of the real groundwork was laid in the 40's - 70's or thereabouts and therefore, none of the old books are obsolete; their contents are still correct. If anything, they're common-sensical and not bogged down with superfluous amounts of theory that, while fascinating, really doesn't lend much practical utility to working metallurgists. One of the best steel books I've ever read was the Republic Alloy Steels handbook from the 60's. So where some might look at an old book collection and see it as a relic, I usually see a treasure trove of useful information that might otherwise be hard to come by in such a concentrated and approachable format.

As I approach retirement, I wonder what to do with MY technical book collection including many ASM Handbooks. 

I assume you keep a few if plan to consult any at all.

What have others done? 

As I approach retirement, I wonder what to do with MY technical book collection including many ASM Handbooks. 

I assume you keep a few if plan to consult any at all.

What have others done? 

As I approach retirement, I wonder what to do with MY technical book collection including many ASM Handbooks. 

I assume you keep a few if plan to consult any at all.

What have others done? 

I gave many to younger engineers whom I'd mentored. I also wouldn't be in a hurry to divest of all of them. Consulting opportunities pop up after retirement.  

As I approach retirement, I wonder what to do with MY technical book collection including many ASM Handbooks. 

I assume you keep a few if plan to consult any at all.

What have others done? 

As I approach retirement, I wonder what to do with MY technical book collection including many ASM Handbooks. 

I assume you keep a few if plan to consult any at all.

What have others done? 

Late to the thread, but I second what Sanjay said. I am relatively young in my career and often look for cheaper ways to find some of the handbooks. They have been very very useful for my work and it will be nice to have a means to exchange or sell books within this community. 

As I approach retirement, I wonder what to do with MY technical book collection including many ASM Handbooks. 

I assume you keep a few if plan to consult any at all.

What have others done?