• Donate, Donate, Donate. Yes, while sometimes difficult to do, the books that you have not been reading or referring to can bring joy to others. Many organizations, like Books for America and Project Night Night, accept used books in good condition. You can also make donations to local libraries, hospitals, after school programs, homeless shelters, and senior centers.

• Sell, Sell, Sell. Alternatively, you can sell your used books. Check sites like Sell Back Your Books and Blue Rectangle for more information. You may also find some local book stores that will purchase specific titles. Keep in mind that your books need to be in good condition to be sold or donated.

• Audiobooks. To stop your piles from growing, consider purchasing books on CD or downloading them to your hard drive. Audible.com (and other services like it) offers a wide selection of topics (e.g., Business, Self-Help, Classics, Education, Comedy, Arts & Entertainment, etc.). You can listen to your books on your computer, burn them to a CD, or transfer your them to your iPod. Listen to your favorite author in the car or while on the treadmill. An added bonus is that you can also find your favorite magazines, radio show, podcasts, and speeches! Audible keeps all the books you buy in your personal online library so they’re always easy to find.

• One In, One Out. This is a concept that can be applied to almost any item, including books (or clothing, shoes, tupperware, etc.). For every new publication you purchase, an existing one needs to be donated or sold. So before you head to the bookstore to get that book that you must have, take a look at your collection to see which ones might benefit someone else.

Try the option that works best for you. Free up your space and spend more time reading instead of navigating around a sea of books. You’ll be glad you did.