By MI-LING STONE POOLE –

DEAR MI-LING: I recently inherited a large number of old books from my grandfather’s estate. Some of the books are leather-bound, paperback and hard cover.

I’m sorting and giving some to family members. It’s a little overwhelming. I’m tempted to throw away or donate most of the books.

My friend told me to have them looked at before I donate them because they might be worth some money. Is there a quick and easy way to find out if a book is worth anything without paying an appraiser? Are the prices on the Internet accurate?

I would like to find an interesting way to use some of the books to decorate my home and pay tribute to my late grandfather.

Booked Up

DEAR BOOKED UP: Your friend is right — old books can be valuable. They have a dual purpose in your case. You could sell them to a local designer, antique shop or bookseller or you could use them in your own home to accessorize.

My first line of attack would be to search the book titles on the Internet and get an idea of what the value of each book is worth. Create a spreadsheet or just list the books on a piece of paper and begin searching. Things to take into consideration are the title, author, condition of the book, date and if it’s signed.

After your initial search you can decide if you want to sell some of the more valuable pieces. Don’t hesitate to contact a few reputable booksellers for more detailed information or appraisals.

To decorate your home, place a stack on the mantel of your fireplace or on an unused stool or chair. They look great behind a glass cabinet door with other items from your grandfather.

If the books are damaged you could remove the pages of books that are not valuable and decoupage a table or tray. Place a stack of old books in your bathroom on a shelf or tear out the pages and glue them to a board, then frame and hang in the bathroom. It makes for good reading.

If you decide to donate the books, leaf through each page first. I found an old 10-cent movie ticket and a handwritten note in my grandfather’s collection of books, as well as an autographed book from the late vice president, Hubert Humphrey.

What have you done with your old books?