Give your books a second life spread knowledge and joy by donating to those in need.
Donating old books to a library or charity is an impactful way to clear up space while helping others access knowledge, entertainment, and education. Whether you’re decluttering your home or simply wish to pass along books that have been important to you, giving them to a good cause allows them to reach new readers. The act of donation can be personally fulfilling, knowing your books will enrich someone else's life and foster a love of reading in others.
10:00 AM: You start your day by going through your bookshelves, realizing you have a few books that no longer serve you.
10:10 AM: You carefully pick out books that are still in good condition, making sure to set aside a few that may be of interest to others.
10:15 AM: You place the books in a sturdy bag or box, ready to donate them to a local library or charity.
10:30 AM: You drive to the donation center, feeling good about giving the books away and knowing they’ll be appreciated by others.
10:45 AM: You drop off the books, smiling as you know they will be enjoyed by someone else.
The Strand Bookstore (New York City, NY)
Overview: A well-known independent bookstore with a history of accepting donated books for resale and charity events.:
Landmarks: The front counter where donations can be dropped off or at special donation events.:
Tips: Visit during special donation events to ensure your books go directly to charity efforts, or check if they are part of the used book section for resale.:
Goodwill Donation Center (Phoenix, AZ)
Overview: A local Goodwill store accepting donations of gently used books that help fund their community programs.:
Landmarks: The book donation drop-off area near the store's entrance.:
Tips: Check with staff to ensure books are in acceptable condition, and consider donating any excess books you have around the house.:
Overview: Offers a donation program where you can donate your old books directly to the library, which may sell them at book sales to fund library activities.:
Landmarks: The donation bins located outside the library or within the library's community center.:
Tips: Ask if your donation can contribute to an upcoming library book sale for further support.:
Goodwill of Central Arizona (Phoenix, AZ)
Salvation Army Family Store (Phoenix, AZ)
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store (Phoenix, AZ)
Arizona Humane Society Donation Center (Phoenix, AZ)
Tempe Public Library (Tempe, AZ)
Scottsdale Public Library (Scottsdale, AZ)
Mesa Public Library (Mesa, AZ)
Glendale Public Library (Glendale, AZ)
Yuma Public Library (Yuma, AZ)
Flagstaff Public Library (Flagstaff, AZ)
Pima County Public Library (Tucson, AZ)
South Mountain Community College Library (Phoenix, AZ)
Desert Mission Thrift Store (Phoenix, AZ)
Bookman's (Phoenix, AZ)
Bookmans (Tucson, AZ)
Half Price Books (Phoenix, AZ)
Habitat for Humanity ReStores (Phoenix, AZ)
Tucson Community Food Bank (Tucson, AZ)
Bridge to Hope (Mesa, AZ)
Best Friends Animal Society (Phoenix, AZ)
City of Chandler Public Library (Chandler, AZ)
New River Library (New River, AZ)
East Valley Adult Resources (Mesa, AZ)
The Salvation Army (Mesa, AZ)
Hearts & Hands Thrift Store (Phoenix, AZ)
ReStore by Habitat for Humanity (Glendale, AZ)
Sustainability, giving back, community engagement, charity, second chances.
1. Goodwill Industries: Charity
2. Salvation Army: Charity
3. St. Vincent de Paul: Charity
4. Tempe Public Library: Library Services
5. Scottsdale Public Library: Library Services
6. Mesa Public Library: Library Services
7. Glendale Public Library: Library Services
8. Yuma Public Library: Library Services
9. Flagstaff Public Library: Library Services
10. Bookmans: Used Bookstore
11. Half Price Books: Used Bookstore
12. Arizona Humane Society: Animal Charity
13. Bridge to Hope: Nonprofit Organization
14. Habitat for Humanity: Charity
15. Best Friends Animal Society: Charity
16. City of Chandler Public Library: Library Services
17. Pima County Public Library: Library Services
18. New River Library: Library Services
19. Bookman's: Used Bookstore
20. Habitat for Humanity ReStores: Nonprofit Store
21. Books Are Magic: Brooklyn, NY
22. McNally Jackson: Bookseller
23. The Booksmith: San Francisco, CA
24. Powell’s Books: Portland, OR
25. Politics & Prose: Washington, D.C.
26. Tattered Cover Book Store: Denver, CO
27. IndieBound: Bookstore Directory
28. Amazon: Online Bookstore
29. Google Books: E-Book Store
30. Kindle: E-Book Reader
31. Apple Books: E-Book Store
32. Goodreads: Social Book Platform
33. Audible: Audiobook Platform
1. Amazon (Purchase new books to donate or share)
2. Target (Buy a new bag or box for book donations)
3. Walmart (Pick up boxes or donation bags)
4. Best Buy (Get a tablet or e-reader for digital donations)
5. Audible (Download audiobooks to share with friends or charity)
6. Libby (Download e-books to donate or share)
7. Book Clubz (Join an online book club to recommend books)
8. Meetup (Find book exchange groups to donate books)
9. Instagram (Follow book donation drives in your area)
10. Local Libraries (Ask about donation needs or upcoming events)
• A collection of books to donate:
• Library card (for book donations):
• Donation bags or boxes:
• Comfortable clothes for the trip:
• Address or details for donation center/library:
• Receipt for donation (if tax-deductible):
• Tape to secure bags or boxes:
• Pen for labeling donations:
• Car or transportation for dropping off books:
• A friend or family member to help with large donations:
• Amazon Kindle (E-Book Reader)
• Audible (Audiobook Service)
• Libby (E-Book and Audiobook App)
• Half Price Books (Used Bookstore)
• Bookmans (Used Bookstore)
The book donation center may not accept all types of books.
Some libraries or charities might only accept donations during certain hours.
Large donations may require additional transportation or help.
Book condition may prevent some donations from being accepted.
You may have to wait in line to drop off books at busy donation centers.
Your donations may not be used immediately and might sit in storage.
Some organizations may not provide a receipt for tax deductions.
Regularly go through bookshelves to keep books organized.
Donate books after finishing reading them to clear up space.
Check local charity events for book donation drives.
Share unused books with friends, family, or libraries.
Participate in book swaps with others to find new reads.
Plan to donate books after purchasing new ones.
Use social media to promote and find book donation drives.
Follow up with the library or charity to see how your donation was used.
Donate a new set of books after the current ones are picked up.
Move to digital donations by donating e-books or audiobooks.
Visit the donation center again to see if you can contribute more.
Shift focus to donating other items like clothes or household goods.
Events
You must log in to add an event.
Events for this Scenario
No events found for this scenario yet.
Experiences
Please log in to share your experience.