With so many books to choose from, you’ll have the hard part of deciding which one to donate.
On Instagram I shared the hard task of purging my books. I have a million with little or no storage space. But what happened was…. During my purge, I ended up reading and re-claiming books.
I decided to share my work (purge in process), and an interested person asked, “where can you donate books?” I responded briefly but decided to post more here on the blog.
Popular and Unique Places to Donate Books
Local Donation Options
- Public Libraries
- Many libraries accept gently used books for their collections or book sales.
- Call ahead—they often have specific donation days or guidelines.
- Schools & Colleges
- Especially helpful for children’s books, young adult novels, and textbooks.
- Contact local principals, librarians, or teachers to ask if they need donations.
- Community Centers / YMCA / Local Clubs
- Often accept books for literacy programs, tutoring, or community libraries.
- Hospitals & Nursing Homes
- They may accept clean, gently used books for waiting rooms or patient use.
- Churches / Faith-Based Organizations
- Great place to donate devotionals, spiritual books, or children’s materials.
Charitable Organizations
- Goodwill or Salvation Army
- Accepts a wide range of books. Proceeds support their employment programs.
- Habitat for Humanity ReStores
- Some locations take books to sell in support of housing projects.
- Books for Africa / Books Through Bars / Better World Books
- Organizations that distribute books to under-served communities locally or globally.
- Little Free Library
- Find a nearby box via littlefreelibrary.org and drop books off for community sharing.
Online / Specialized Options
- Freecycle.org / Buy Nothing Groups (Facebook)
- Offer books locally for free and connect with those who want them.
- Local Prison Programs
- Many prisons accept paperback books only. Check with local chaplains or nonprofits.
- Book Drives / Literacy Nonprofits
- Check with local literacy organizations or Rotary Clubs—they may be running book drives.
