Who is Simply Textbook?
Simply Textbook was created by Matthew Page, a long term academic book collector. It is a one-man Sole Trader operation established in 2017, dedicated to collecting and redistributing unwanted academic books.
Where is Simply Textbook based?
Simply Textbook is based in Swindon, Wiltshire, in the South West of England.
What can be collected? 📚
Simply Textbook collects any published books with ISBN. That’s academic and non-academic; fiction and non-fiction; ANY subject, genre, language.
Original published media CDs, DVDs and games discs are also acceptable for collection.
What is not acceptable for collection? ❌
Simply Textbook does NOT collect:
Journals, periodicals, magazines, pamphlets, brochures, booklets, reports, folders, dissertations, manuals, conference proceedings, photocopies, or any other paper/non-paper items that do not have ISBN.
Simply Textbook is unable to collect and successfully redistribute books that pre-date ISBN. That is anything published before approximately 1970.
No large quantities of duplicate titles without prior agreement.
The other following specific items may be rejected:
- Large quantities of Open University course books
- Legal ‘White Books’
- BNF (British National Formulary) books specifically marked “Property of the NHS”
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, and other general interest multi-volume sets
- Any books marked “Free copy”
- Any books marked as “Advance reading copy”
What happens to the books?
All books are taken back to Simply Textbook’s base in Swindon, where they are painstakingly checked and sorted. The most suitable onward path for each book is evaluated, by means of sale and donation to charity.
Are books sent to landfill?
No books are ever sent to landfill. Worst case scenario, books may be recycled where all other avenues have been exhausted.
Is Simply Textbook a charity?
No, Simply Textbook is NOT a charity, and does not purport to be a charity. Simply Textbook is a Sole Trader for-profit venture, which makes donations to charity.
Does Simply Textbook pay for books?
Simply Textbook does not make any payment for books.
Does Simply Textbook collect from schools and colleges?
Simply Textbook does not collect from schools and colleges, and is unable to accept any large quantities of school/college level educational books. School/college collections invariably involve large quantities of duplicate titles in varying states and conditions. This present considerable challenges to Simply Textbook which it is not equipped to deal with.
Where does Simply Textbook collect?
Simply Textbook collects in England and Wales. Collections are no longer offered in Scotland.
The more central to the country you are, the more likely that a collection can be offered without too much delay. The further away from the centre you are, the more challenging it may be logistically to provide a timely collection.
Collections take place most frequently in more populated urban areas, such as London, Surrey/Sussex, the Midlands, Yorkshire, the North West, South Wales.
Is there a minimum or maximum quantity?
Your collection may be combined with other collections in the same geographical area.
Maximum quantity overall per trip is around 1500 books (average size/weight).
Minimum quantities can be a little harder to manage. Simply Textbook typically needs to be filling at least half the van (approximately 750 books) on each trip to make it economically sustainable. If you only have, say, 50 books, a dedicated trip will not be possible. It will be necessary to add your collection to others in the same region. There may be a delay scheduling your collection, until such time that the minimum target has been reached.