The Complete Guide to Donating Books to Your Local Library

Do Libraries Accept All Book Donations?

No — and this surprises many first-time donors. Libraries have limited shelf space and high standards for condition. They receive far more donated books than they can use, so they're selective. Showing up with a carload of books and expecting all of them to be taken will often end in disappointment.

Before donating, always check your library's donation policy. Many post guidelines on their website. Some libraries only accept donations during specific hours or by appointment. A quick phone call saves everyone time.

What Do Libraries Typically Accept?

• Popular fiction in good condition — especially recent bestsellers
• Children's and young adult books in clean condition (no crayon, no torn pages)
• Recent non-fiction (within 3–5 years) on popular topics
• Local history and regional interest books
• Large-print books (high demand, often undersupplied)
• DVDs, audiobooks, and music CDs (many libraries still circulate these)

What Do Libraries Usually Decline?

• Outdated non-fiction — technology, medicine, law, and self-help books age quickly
• Old textbooks (anything more than 1–2 editions behind is usually useless)
• Books with water damage, mold, musty smell, or heavy foxing
• Heavily highlighted or annotated books
• Encyclopedias and almanacs (outdated and bulky)
• Reader's Digest condensed books (low demand, oversupplied)
• VHS tapes and cassettes

When in doubt, use the condition test: would you be comfortable giving this book to a friend? If not, the library probably won't want it either.

How Should You Prepare Books for Donation?

A little preparation goes a long way:

1. Sort first. Remove anything damaged, moldy, or clearly outdated. Don't make the library do your triage.
2. Check values. Before donating, scan your books with TroveScore to see if any are worth selling. A shelf of 50 books sometimes contains two or three worth $15–$40 each. Five minutes of scanning can offset the cost of the donation run.
3. Group by type. Libraries appreciate when fiction, non-fiction, and children's books are separated — it makes their sorting easier.
4. Box or bag neatly. Avoid showing up with loose piles. Standard moving boxes with handles make it easy for staff to manage.
5. Remove personal items. Old bookmarks, receipts, and personal notes should come out beforehand.

What Happens to the Books After You Donate?

Libraries typically route donated books one of three ways:

• Added to the collection — books that fill gaps in the collection or replace worn copies go directly to the shelves.
• Friends of the Library book sale — most libraries hold annual (or ongoing) book sales where donated books are sold cheaply, with proceeds funding library programs.
• Discarded — books that can't be added or sold are recycled or discarded. This isn't a failure; it's a normal part of collection management.

For more on where donated books end up, see our post on what happens to donated books.

Where Else Can You Donate Books the Library Won't Take?

• Thrift stores — Goodwill, Salvation Army, and local thrift shops accept nearly any clean book.
• Little Free Libraries — neighborhood book boxes are a great place for popular fiction and children's books. Find one at littlefreelibrary.org.
• Schools and universities — elementary schools love children's books; community colleges often have free book exchanges.
• Prison literacy programs — organizations like Books to Prisoners accept gently used books for incarcerated readers.
• Shelters and community centers — women's shelters, homeless shelters, and community centers often welcome books for shared reading rooms.
• International programs — Books for Africa and similar organizations ship quality books to communities with limited access to reading materials.