Another point to ponder: Whether you fill hard drives or book shelves, your collection will perish with you unless you transfer it to someone younger _and teac

Another point to ponder: Whether you fill hard drives or book shelves, your collection will perish with you unless you transfer it to someone younger _and teach them to value it_ before you pass. Several of my aging friends have thousands of books they've read and shelved up. In a few years their children will think nothing of depositing them all in the landfill because the books lack both market value and sentimental value. The books simply aren't worth the hassle of sorting through. Old hard drives filled with niche data won't fare any better. Unless the ongoing existence of your collection benefits you or a protege directly, you yourself are already effectively disposing of it.