Where to Donate Books When You&039re Ready to Clean Out Your Shelves

YOU ARE READING: Where to Donate Books When You&039re Ready to Clean Out Your Shelves AT PhebinhvanhocEN

For the past few weeks, people have been going back and forth pretty aggressively when it came to a bit of Marie Kondo’s advice: how many books should you have? And is it really better to give them away?

You are reading: Can i donate books to goodwill

When it comes to cleaning, we know that while it’s important to keep your favorites, you also shouldn’t be afraid to clean them from time to time. after all, you can find them a familiar home, and someone else can fall in love with them for the first time! So knowing what to do with the books you no longer read can become the hardest part. We’re still waiting for someone to come up with that magic store-and-share library, but hey, what can you do until then?

If you need to create space on your shelves, it’s important to know where to donate books. you don’t (read: don’t don’t) need to throw them away! Marie says that everything in your home should create joy. If you’re looking at your bookshelf and see sleeping books that no longer give you that spark of joy, let them spark joy in another home by donating them!

where to donate books

cleaning the shelves

1. libraries

Perhaps the most obvious place to donate books is your local library. Libraries give us the opportunity to read books for free, so it’s always nice to give back. Most libraries have a Friends of the Library group that will host special book sales to benefit the library. If your library can’t use your donated books on the shelf, this group can sometimes take your donated books and resell them at these fundraisers. (image via flickr by kristina)

2. goodwill

Another organization that accepts books to help give back to the community is Goodwill. You’re probably familiar with goodwill stores for clothing donations, but did you know you can donate your old books too? profits from these resale stores help fund job training, job placement services, and other programs for people in the local community who face certain barriers to getting a job. (image via flickr of joe green)

3. nurseries and schools

If you’re raising little readers who go through books as fast as their clothes come off, donate them. schools and day care centers in your community sometimes accept book donations. Many teachers and daycare providers use their own money to stock their classroom libraries, so donations are always appreciated. furthermore, funding for school libraries is sometimes limited. gently used copies of current and classic titles can go a long way in helping the school keep library shelves stocked. (image via flickr by pdplay)

4. vietnam veterans of america

vietnam veterans of america is a nonprofit organization that helps support veterans across the country. You can donate just about anything, including clothes, shoes, tools, toys, household items, and of course, books. The organization is funded without any help from the government, so your donation helps fund veterans services and outreach programs. Are you too busy reading your favorite novel to put down your books? You can also arrange for the program to pick up your donation at your home. (image via flickr of vincent nadal)

5. theaters

If you have books that look old or are simply too worn to donate elsewhere, ask your local theater if they’ll accept them. many theaters may use your books as props during plays and performances. Old books are especially useful for plays set in another time period, and torn or damaged books are great for performances that require a spooky background. (image via flickr by phil squattrito)

6. habitat for humanity restores

You may be familiar with Habitat for Humanity because of the work the nonprofit organization does to help build and restore homes around the world. However, you may not realize that the organization also has Habitat for Humanity Restorations that sell new and used building and household materials, including their vintage books. Profits from the stores help Habitat for Humanity build new homes within their community. (image via flickr from britt.collins)

7. nursing homes and assisted living facilities

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are another good option for donating your books. these establishments often have group areas stocked with games and books. Unfortunately, if the selection isn’t varied, residents can often end up reading the same books over and over again. Call a few facilities in your area to see if they can handle a book donation, especially if you have large print books you’d like to donate. (image via flickr by kaycos)

8. books for soldiers and operation paperback

Operation Paperback will collect gently used books to ship to U.S. soldiers deployed abroad. If you sign up with Books for Soldiers, you can create care packages out of your used books and send them to troops stationed overseas. After you sign up to volunteer with Books for Soldiers, you have the opportunity to review Book Requests from Soldiers. some will ask for specific titles or a certain genre. however, most just ask for something to read. You can also include DVDs and CDs with your care package. (image via flickr from greene county public library)

9. prisons

Prisons have libraries that are used to help educate inmates and give them access to reading material. these libraries are always in desperate need of books. There are currently several programs working to collect used books and send them to prisons, including the Books for Prisons Program, Books Through Bars, and Books for Inmates. these organizations will collect donated books and distribute them to inmates.

Programs typically have a list of most needed materials, including dictionaries, history books, textbooks, study guides, and drug and alcohol recovery books. Please note that programs will only accept paperbacks as most prisons do not allow hardcover books. (image via flickr by amanda oliver)

10. reader to reader, inc.

how about expanding literacy programs with your book donation? reader to reader, inc. is a nonprofit organization that works to expand learning opportunities in some of America’s most underserved communities, including rural cities, inner-city schools, and Native American reservations. Donated books go to help under-resourced public libraries and school libraries across the country. In addition, the program has helped restock libraries across the country after natural disasters destroyed collections. (image via flickr by yoann jezequel)

11. children need to read

Another non-profit organization created to help foster children’s literacy programs and provide books to underfunded schools and libraries across the country is Kids Need to Read. The program accepts books and magazines for reading levels from preschool through high school. They ask for new, like-new books that aren’t scrawled or torn, so make sure your kids’ Picasso tendencies stay on the easel instead of in their books. (image via flickr by qq zuo)

12. books for africa

Along with programs that help schools and libraries in the United States, you can also find organizations that help readers in other countries. Books for Africa will collect, sort, ship, and distribute books to students in Africa. The organization ships millions of books each year to help combat extreme book shortages in various countries. While the charity is in dire need of recent textbooks and reference books at the primary and secondary educational levels, it can also donate fiction and non-fiction books. (image via flickr by lucas croce)

13. african library project

Another organization that helps increase literacy programs in Africa by sending used book donations is the African Library Project. This organization focuses primarily on schools and libraries in sub-Saharan Africa. they collect gently used books, sort them, and send them to a designated school or community library. You can also coordinate a book drive in your own community to help open a library in Africa. all you need to do is collect 1,000 used books and raise $500 for shipping and related costs to give a community in Africa a library. (image via African Library Project)

14. canine therapy literacy programs

how about donating your books to the dogs? don’t get too excited, dogs don’t really read. They listen to the children read. For many children, learning to read is a stressful situation and they may feel intimidated trying to read to adults. however, these same children thrive when they practice their reading skills on dogs because they feel less judged. you can find local programs across the country that connect dogs and kids learning to read.

Some shelters also have reading programs to help children become more comfortable with reading and help dogs prepare for adoption. For example, the Missouri Humane Society has a Friends of the Shelter Reading Program designed to comfort and reduce anxiety for shelter pets. While children are welcome to bring their own books, the shelter also has a library of animal-themed books available. You can check with shelters in your area to see if they have a similar program or if they need books to help create your own program. (image via ricardo’s flickr)

15. local donation programs

Many communities have their own book donation programs that you can use. As an example, residents of Los Angeles can take advantage of a service called rebooking. This free program collects books and donates them to schools, libraries, hospitals, programs for at-risk children, and more. You can check with schools, churches, libraries, and volunteer organizations within your community to see if they offer something similar. (image via epic readings)

Your old books don’t have to sit on your shelves gathering dust. instead, you can make room for new books when you take advantage of one of these great donation programs. Do you have a favorite way to donate your books? let us know in the comments below.

Other content