where to donate old books

by Antonette Sanford II 7 min read

Where to donate old or unwanted books?

Schools and families buy books for fun and education. Instead of throwing out your old books or recycling them, donate them so they can be read and enjoyed again. Great Service · Tax Deduction Receipts · Pickups Within 24 Hours in Most Areas. Schedule a Pickup.

Where to donate books you no longer need?

Jul 14, 2018 · Where to Donate books If you’re feeling generous, donating your used books can be a great way to find them a loving home. 1. Libraries Libraries usually accept donations and sell those books in a Friends of the Library fundraiser. Local libraries give us so many books for free–let’s give some back to them! Book Deals Newsletter

Where can I find organisations which donate books?

Jan 08, 2022 · If you donate books in the United States or Canada, they will most likely be sold at a used bookstore; If you donate books in the United Kingdom, they are sent to a recycling plant; If you donate books in Africa, they are used as school textbooks; If you donate books in Asia, they are used as library resources; If you donate books in Latin America, literacy programs will use …

What are the best places to donate books?

Jun 09, 2021 · Another fantastic place to donate your used books is to a Little Free Library near you. Little Free Library is a book sharing movement where people set up tiny libraries in neighborhoods, and then anyone can donate or take books from these little libraries for free.

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Where is the best place to donate used books?

Best Places to Donate Used BooksYour Local Library. ... Your Neighborhood Little Free Library. ... A School or Community Book Drive or Fundraiser. ... Freecycle. ... Reputable Charities. ... Local Faith-Based Organizations. ... Your Neighborhood Thrift Store. ... Local Museums & Other Cultural Organizations.More items...

How do I get rid of books?

10 Ways to Recycle Your Old BooksDonate to your local library. Bring your gently used books to your local library. ... Donate to a local charity. ... Make some gift tags. ... Recycle your unusable books. ... Sell them or give them away online. ... Make a “Free Books” box.Jul 10, 2017

What do you do with old books in San Francisco?

Where Can I Recycle My Books in San Francisco?The San Francisco Public Library. Drop off your used books at The San Francisco Public Library at 1630 17th Street. ... Little Free Library. ... Goodwill. ... Prisoner's Literature Project.

What to do with books that can't be donated?

Where To Donate Books You No Longer NeedLibraries. Libraries usually accept donations and sell those books in a Friends of the Library fundraiser. ... Local thrift stores. Goodwill accepts a lot more than clothes. ... Prisons. Prisons desperately need used books. ... Schools. Schools may also want your used books.Jul 14, 2018

Should I throw away old books?

Books with moldy pages cannot be recycled, but must be tossed in the trash before they can spread their mold to other books. If a book cannot be reused or given new life in some other way, it's perfectly okay to recycle it.Feb 2, 2019

What to do with old hardcover books?

While you can throw your hardcover books in the trash, we recommend that you donate your books. They can be dropped off at your local thrift or used book store for others to enjoy! You can also remove the cover and binding to recycle the inside pages of the hardcover book.

Where can I donate books in San Francisco with Covid?

Where to Donate Books in San FranciscoFriends of the San Francisco Public Library.Prisoners Literature Project.Children's Book Project.Where To Donate Books in San Francisco: The Spark Notes.Mar 24, 2021

Does SF Public Library accept book donations?

We accept books in all languages. Our staff and volunteers are experienced with rare and collectible books, and we thoroughly examine all donated materials to identify valuable and exceptional items.

Does the SF Public Library take book donations?

Book donations can only be taken by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library at its donation center in Potrero Hill. ... The Friends of the San Francisco Public Library accepts donations of materials that they sell to raise money for the Library. Call 415-522-8606 for more information.Aug 10, 2021

What to do with books after reading them?

8 Things to Do with Books You Will No Longer ReadSee if a local after school club or program can use them. ... Sell them online. ... Look for a local missionary group to take them. ... Donate magazines to local clinics. ... Donate them to a local school. ... Donate to the troops and veterans. ... Use the pages for crafts.More items...

What do I do with all my books?

Remember, there's no such thing as too many books, so if you want to keep them all, then by all means, DO IT!...Remove the dust jackets. ... Play with horizontal book stacks. ... Separate hardcover books from paperbacks. ... Organize books by a certain category.More items...

Where can I get rid of old books near me?

You can donate books at several locations in your city, including:The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is one of the world's largest providers of social aid. ... Goodwill. ... Local Libraries. ... Vietnam Veterans of America. ... Habitat for Humanity ReStores. ... Other Local Charities. ... Local Theaters. ... Retirement Homes.More items...•Oct 29, 2019

What is a little free library?

Little Free Library is a network of small drop boxes erected by regular people across the country where others are free to grab or donate their old books. It’s an excellent way to recycle an old read of your own and pick up a new one while you’re at it.

Why do schools sponsor book drives?

School groups and community organizations routinely sponsor book drives to raise funds, collect books for deserving recipients, or both. If you’re already involved with school-based organizations that could use books (or use books to raise funds), your donations will probably have the highest impact there.

What are some examples of nonprofit organizations?

Otherwise, look for nonprofit organizations in your area that collect and distribute books. One example is the Children’s Book Bank, a Portland, Oregon-based group that organizes book drives to supply reading material to lower-income families.

Is it good to donate used books?

Donating used books is a win-win for donors and recipients. For donors, giving old books brings with it the satisfaction of a decluttering job well done and the knowledge the recipient organizations will get more mileage out of them. For recipients, old books can be a vital source of revenue or knowledge — or both, depending on the organization’s mission and purpose.

What is freecycle network?

Because they’re cheap and plentiful, books are perennial objects of interest to Freecycle network members. If you live in an area with an active Freecycle community, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding multiple people to take old books off your hands.

Does Goodwill accept used books?

Many nonprofit organizations accept used book donations. Goodwill is one of the biggest, best-known nonprofit thrift store chains in the United States. If you live in or near a decent-size city, there’s a good chance you have a Goodwill within driving distance.

What is a reader to reader book donation?

Reader to Reader’s book donation program has donated millions of books to schools and public libraries, including those in low-income areas. You can find a donation program near you and hold a book drive.

What is a book to prisoners?

Books to Prisoners is an organization that’s dedicated to sending books to prisoners. There are lots of Books to Prisoners groups in the US. Canada and England. One of the organization’s groups, Prison Book Program has a list of states the organization services, so you may be able to find one near you.

What is Books for Africa?

Books for Africa collects, sorts, ships, and distributes books (fiction, nonfiction and textbooks) to students of all ages in Africa. Its goal is to end the book famine in Africa. So by donating to this cause, you’ll be helping students in Africa. In addition to donating your books, you can also make a financial donation to cover the cost ...

Can I donate books to a thrift store?

Many local thrift stores accept book donations. So you could donate books to a thrift store near you. Of course, not all thrift stores will accept books. So do call to ask before you show up to donate.

What is letgo for books?

LetGo is a website where people can buy and sell stuff locally. But it also has a section just for free stuff. In this section, people can give away and get items for free. So you could list your books for free on the site.

Does Habitat accept books?

Generally, it accepts things like new and gently used appliances, furniture, building materials, and household goods. But some stores do accept book donations as well. For example, the Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven accepts book donations.

What is a pick up please?

Pickup Please is a donation pickup service that will collect your used books right from your home to help The Vietnam Veterans of America. The Veterans of America sells your donated books to private companies by annual bid that generates funding to support the programs of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Where can I donate used books?

Where to Donate books. If you’re feeling generous, donating your used books can be a great way to find them a loving home. 1. Libraries. Libraries usually accept donations and sell those books in a Friends of the Library fundraiser. Local libraries give us so many books for free–let’s give some back to them!

Can books be recycled?

If your books are battered and beat up beyond hope, sometimes they can be recycled. Typically, books can’t be recycled with other paper products because of the glue in their binding. Find a recycling center near you and ask them if they accept books.

Do prisons need books?

Prisons desperately need used books. They provide a vital source of information and connection to the rest of the world. Click here for more specifics on what and how to donate.

Does Goodwill take books?

Goodwill accepts a lot more than clothes. They also will take books in good condition (and the bookshelf they’re on, if you’re feeling minimalist). Click here to see if a Goodwill near you needs used books. Other local thrift stores also will usually accept book donations.

1. Your Local Library

Your local library is a great first place to consider when you’re wondering “Where can I donate books?” Each library has their own rules and guidelines, but many of them do accept library book donations!

2. Little Free Library

Another fantastic place to donate your used books is to a Little Free Library near you. Little Free Library is a book sharing movement where people set up tiny libraries in neighborhoods, and then anyone can donate or take books from these little libraries for free.

3. Thrift Stores

When you’re wondering where to donate used books, one of the easiest options is to donate books to thrift stores. There are likely a lot of thrift stores near you, including some big thrift store chains and local places.

4. Local Used Bookstores

Are you looking for places to donate books where you can also get something in exchange? If so, then you should definitely check into donating to local used bookstores in your area.

5. Online Used Book Stores

Online used bookstores are also an option for donating books, although it’s likely you won’t get credit in return.

6. Places That Pick Up Books

If you’re wanting to donate books but looking for a book donation pick up service, then you’re in luck because there are a few places that do this!

7. PaperBackSwap

Where can you donate books and get something in return? Well, besides local used bookstores, another option is to list books on PaperBackSwap.

How many books have been donated to Better World Books?

And you can always check Better World Books, which has drop boxes across the country. To date, 20.5 million books have been donated, 237.6 million have been reused or recycled, and $23.7 million raised in the name of literacy projects. Amen to that.

How much does it cost to ship books across the Atlantic?

In fact, it can cost up to $16,000 for one shipping container — but that breaks down to about 50 cents per book.

What is the Prison Book Program?

Because the cost of shipping is, again, an obstacle, Prison Book Program, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit, maintains a list of places across the U.S. that take in-person donations.

What is the mission of Books for Africa?

Send them to Africa. The Books for Africa mission is simple and evocative — putting an end to Africa’s book famine. The nonprofit, founded in 1988, takes individual donations of fiction and nonfiction titles but is especially keen on timely reference and textbooks.

Where can I donate old books?

Title Trader is another of the interesting new places to donate your old books where you can receive the books you want back via a points system. These can be good if you want your books to go to somebody who wants your specific titles, and also want to have the option to get different books to replace the ones you no longer want. Recycling books in this way gets more use out of every book, and also helps people who can’t afford all the new books they want to gain access to more books.

What is a book through bars?

Books Through Bars. Books Through Bars is a non-profit that provides books to adults who are in prison. It can be one of the best places if you have books in categories that are in high demand, including many genres of fiction, and also reference books, how-to and self help.

Can I donate books to Bookmooch?

Bookmooch is one of the most rewarding places to donate books, because it also allows you to get a book in return if you want it for every book you donate. This makes Bookmooch one of our best places where you can donate children’s books, allowing you to donate books your child has grown out of and receive new books they want instead, as well as also enabling you to donate kids’ books to charities that Bookmooch provides books to.

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