where to donate books in chicago
Recycling is often in the spotlight, but it’s the latest in the “reduce, reuse, recycle” motto for a reason. Reducing the amount of waste we produce and reusing things as much as possible are our first lines of defense in conserving natural resources.
for example, take books. in 2016 more than 2.4 million printed books were sold. Add them to the millions of shelves crammed into America’s homes, and we’re talking about an enormous amount of resources. mature resources for direct reuse.
You are reading: Where to donate books chicago
Consider the true value of a used book for a minute. really! because they are kind of the perfect reuse item. Whether donating or buying second hand, they have the same appeal:
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books speak of an era but are timeless.
are built for repeated use.
Your words offer the same power to the first reader as to the last.
Ready to donate some books? Here’s the scoop on three Chicago organizations that put used books to great use.
1. books4causes
walk by the books4cause logan square/avondale location and you won’t notice a price tag. that’s because all the books are free.
They call it a ‘free pop-up library,’ and the quality of the books is exceptional. we found many classics, some translated into Spanish, Portuguese and Polish!
books4cause also supports library building in Africa through book donations (118 created so far) and recirculates hundreds of thousands of books. books4cause aims to find a home or recycle all the books, sending zero to landfill.
donate these:
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all books in good condition, including textbooks.
dvd
cds
vinyl/records
collectible cards
how it works:
free pickup:
Free pickup is available if you are donating more than 100 books and are within a 20-mile radius of Skokie. books must be boxed. fill out this form to arrange collection.
If you have less than 100 books, visit the drop off locations below.
leave:
See Also: 32 Books to Read If Your School Won&039t Teach Critical Race Theory
2931 no. milwaukee ave., chicago, 60618 (map)hours: 12p-5p Mon-Sun donation receipt: nowebsite: www.books4cause.com
3415 madison st., skokie, 60076 (map) hours: delivery available 24/7 donation receipt: nowebsite: www.books4cause.com
2. chicago books for women in prison
Operating since 2002, this Chicago-based nonprofit sends books to incarcerated women across the United States. in 2018 they delivered more than 13,500 books to women in prison.
chicago books for women in prison can only accept paperback books. they prefer books published within the last decade. New or nearly new books are appreciated, as some prisons require them.
donate these:
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large print fiction and non-fiction
Dictionaries – English, English/Spanish, Crossword Dictionaries
crafts (such as crocheting, beading, card making, and other paper crafts)
painting, drawing, calligraphy
recovery and addiction books
mental health, depression, ptsd
a wide range of legal books
blank diaries
They also have a regularly updated “special request” and “amazon wish list” for books that are rarely donated but are in high, sometimes urgent, demand. books on religion and law are popular.
not these:
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hardcover books (although there are exceptions for salable quality books)
fiction in English (except large print), because they get a constant stream
textbooks over 5 years old
how it works:
delivery: 4511 no. hermitage avenue. (map)Hours: 2p-5p Sat-SunDonation Receipt: Upon RequestWebsite: www.chicagobwp.org
3. open books
Through sales of donated books online and at its two physical locations, Open Books funds community literacy programs. His traveling literacy workshops have reached tens of thousands of readers in underserved neighborhoods throughout Chicagoland.
The book department also generates zero waste and finds a home for every book through resale, donation, or recycling as a last resort.
donate these:
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saleable books in good condition
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lps, cds and dvds (not vhs tapes)
not these:
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encyclopedias
dictionaries
thesauri
law book sets
magazines/newspapers
pre-college textbooks (k-12)
how it works:
delivery: donations of more than five boxes must be delivered to the pilsen store.
1. west loop645 w sofa pl. (map) – mailbox on desplaines between randolph and lake st., behind the west loop store
2. pilsen905w. 19th street chicago, il 60608 (map) – delivery space in front of the building.
3. north river802 w. superior chicago, il 60642 (map) – halsted corner mailbox + superior
4. hillside5979 butterfield rd. hillside, il 60162 (map) – dropbox
5. northbrook2727 shermer rd. northbrook, il 60062 (map) – dropbox
delivery hours: 24/7 donation receipt: in store and online website: open-books.org
what about damaged books?
Sometimes, books are beyond donation. if they’re too soggy, faded, or torn to read, the books can be upcycled into pretty nifty stuff, or they can be upcycled.
in chicago, paperbacks can be recycled directly in the blue cart. For hardcover books, the covers need to be removed before the pages can be recycled.
Wondering what else can be recycled in your blue cart? see the guide.
sources:association of american publishers
updated in September. 22, 2021
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