Any advice on how to donate books?

Question

In my household there are approximately 300 books... seriously. I am obviously looking to get that number down for clearing up the clutter. With so many books to get rid of, I want to do it appropriately. However, I am having the HARDEST time trying to find a book donation organization. There has to be places out there. I've contacted my library and I understand that they take books, but it is strictly under a children's section and they're not expected as many as I have. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Also consider a used bookshop in your area - many of these stores buy used books, and you can donate the profit to any charity you like.

Your library should have contact information for other dook donation centers, although you may have to travel to a larger city, depending on your area.

Answer 2

Since I work with nonprofits all the time, I suggest homeless shelters, ywca, prison ministries, prison libraries, adult literacy organization, english as second language classes for high school or adults to learn to read english, women's shelters, red cross, aids organizations, or any type of adult residence or adult education nonprofit.

  You can go to www.guidestar.com to look up nonprofits in  your city.  All you have to do is make up your own user name and password; use advanced search because it lets you put in a city or state or key words.  A list of all the nonprofits in your city or state, or, say you enter "learning" or "reading" to get a list of the organizations that have these words in their name, will come up.  

   When you get your list just click on the name of an organization that interests you.  You can read about the organization, then scroll down to the bottom of the page and you can actually click on a year to see their most recent tax return--called a 990.  On their tax return you will find their contact information, how much money they raise, if they are solvent, how they spend their money, who is on their board of directors, and lots more.



   Viewing the results will not only give you a chance to identify prospective donees in your local area, but also will give you a chance to be an "educated donor".   Is the organization financially sound, how much do they actually spend on their programs and services rather than on salaries and overhead, etc.

   Finally, at www.irs.gov, you can go to the charities look up section and see if an organization is a legitimate charity with their charitable status approved by IRS.  Again, being an educated donor will allow you to make the most of your generous donation.

My best...hope this helps, Teresa

Answer 3

Call local schools in your area and surrounding areas, elementary, middle, and high schools. I'm sure they could use some for their libraries.  Even local Catholic schools may be able to use some as they're not part of the bigger school districts.

Local hospitals, Nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, etc. they may be able to use them and take them from you.

Senior Citizen groups.  The local Seniors for your town, they usually collect things and know where to donate them to, whether it's books, sheets, blankets, etc.

Camps, recreation centers, etc, call and see if they need any.

You can even ask your friends, family, and neighbors, if there are any that they would like.  Hold a book sale or a book drive in your yard.  Set out some tables if you want to sell them and sit there for an afternoon to make some money and sell them.  You can also just call some friends or e-mail them with a list of whatever books are left after donating and ask if anyone would like what's left, and if so, tell them to come pick them up.

I hope some of these ideas help!

Answer 4

I organize our local library book sale.  We accept books two weeks before the sale.  Lack of storage space is the reason.

We only accept books in excellent condition, no text books, magazines. Reasons being what does not sell we must pay the dump fees.  If a book sale only brings in 700 hundred dollars - to have to pay 200.00 disposal fee is so fustrating.

Answer 5

I had fifty boxes of books to donate and, funnily enough, the library wouldn't take them for their sales.  They didn't want to store them.

Call senior centers/nursing homes.  They most often are grateful to get books.