What kinds of books can I list on Jetroque?
Any book in readable condition has its place. Here are the main subcategories:
How to give away a book in 3 steps
- Photograph the cover. Jetroque's AI often automatically recognizes the title, author and category.
- Confirm or complete: add the edition year if relevant (for textbooks), specify the condition (new, good, fair).
- List as "Give away" or "Swap". For book swaps, clearly state what you're looking for in return (genre, author, period).
Typical use cases
- Moving: your bookshelf weighs 80 kg and you don't want to pay for the move. List in batches — students will come pick them up quickly.
- Outdated textbooks (for you) but still useful to the next person: your high school workbooks, your grammar guide, your university notes. Huge demand.
- Children's books your kids have outgrown: they find takers within a few hours, especially classics (Petit Ours Brun, Tchoupi, Asterix, Tintin).
- Comics and manga: a very active community. Specify the volumes and publisher (Glénat, Pika, Kana).
- Coffee table books received as gifts and never opened: a neighbour who loves art or photography will be thrilled.
- Duplicates (a book gifted twice): list as-is.
Checklist: a well-listed book is gone within hours
Before listing, check:
- Title, author, publisher visible or entered (the AI helps)
- The edition year for textbooks and coffee table books
- The exact condition (new, like new, good, fair, reading copy only)
- Mention of any annotations, highlighting, signatures (for textbooks/university books, annotations can actually be a selling point)
- For a bundle: photo of the whole lot + list of titles in the description
- A convenient pickup location (transit stop, café, park)
Why give away your books instead of throwing them out?
A book generates roughly 1.2 kg of CO₂ in production (paper, ink, printing, shipping). Giving it to a neighbour avoids:
- The carbon footprint of a new book purchased as a replacement by the recipient
- Premature recycling (paper recycling also consumes energy)
- A cost for the recipient (paperback: $10–16, hardcover: $25–35)
Across a personal library of 100 books, that's the equivalent of 120 kg of CO₂ avoided and several hundred dollars saved by neighbours. See the detailed methodology →
Frequently asked questions — Books
How do I give away my books for free?
Download Jetroque, photograph the cover (the AI often recognizes the title), and list it as a "Give away" in 10 s. Neighbouring book lovers will contact you, often within 48 hours.
Which books are not accepted?
Severely damaged books (torn pages, active mould), publications with prohibited content. For old yellowed but still readable books, give it a try anyway — collectors are interested. Very poor condition: paper recycling bin.
Can I swap books for other books?
Yes. It's one of the most natural uses on Jetroque: "my complete trilogy for your 3 manga volumes". You can also swap for an object or for Jetroque Credits.
Where can I give away my old textbooks or university books?
Jetroque is perfect for that: your high school workbooks, grammar guides, and university course packs are in huge demand among students. List with the subject, level and edition.
What about my books in English, Spanish, Arabic, etc.?
Always welcome, especially in multicultural urban areas (Montreal, Paris, Brussels). Include the language in the title to reach the right audience.
Can I give away magazines and periodicals?
Yes, for recent magazines or collections (National Geographic, Geo, Beaux Arts, etc.). Older general-interest magazines find fewer takers — those can go to the paper recycling bin.
Clear out your bookshelf
10 seconds per book, a neighbouring reader found within 48 hours on average.
List now