7 Things to Do With Books You Don't Want Anymore
Before doing anything with a stack of unwanted books, scan them. Some are worth real money and belong in the "sell" pile, not the donation bin. TroveScore can photograph a whole shelf and return resale values in seconds. Once you know what you have, the right path for each book becomes obvious — and this list covers all of them.
According to a 2012 study by the National Wildlife Federation, an estimated 320 million books end up in landfills annually in the US. That's a problem with a solution: virtually every book in usable condition has somewhere better to go than the trash. Here are seven of the best options, ordered from highest personal return to highest community impact.
Sell Them — Before You Do Anything Else
The single most overlooked step in decluttering books is checking their value first. Most people assume their old books are worth nothing and donate everything, including books that could fetch $15–$60 on eBay or Amazon.
The global secondhand book market is valued at over $25 billion and growing. Online platforms have created liquid markets for titles that previously had no buyer within 50 miles. A textbook, a technical reference, a BookTok-adjacent romantasy novel, or an out-of-print classic can all have active buyers nationally.
Use TroveScore to scan your shelf and identify what's worth selling. For listings, see our guide on how to sell used books on eBay. For immediate cash without listing effort, BookScouter shows buyback prices from 30+ vendors in one search.
Donate to Your Local Library
Public libraries are the most natural destination for good-condition books — but they're more selective than most people expect. Libraries get far more donations than they can shelve, and they prioritize recent titles, popular genres, children's books, and large-print editions.
Books that libraries typically can't use: outdated non-fiction (technology, medicine, law), old textbooks, encyclopedias, Reader's Digest condensed volumes, and anything with significant wear. Always call ahead to confirm they're accepting donations and whether they have any specific needs.
Books the library can't add to the collection usually go to their Friends of the Library book sale, where they're priced at $0.50–$5 with proceeds funding library programs. Either way, your book stays in circulation. For a full guide, see The Complete Guide to Donating Books to Your Local Library.
Leave Them in a Little Free Library
Little Free Libraries are the small wooden book boxes you've probably seen in front yards and parks. They operate on a simple honor system: take a book, leave a book.
Little Free Libraries work best for popular fiction, children's books, and anything someone might pick up on a whim. Find the nearest one at littlefreelibrary.org. If you want to make a bigger contribution, you can register and host your own for around $150–$200.
Donate to a Prison Literacy Program
This is one of the most high-impact things you can do with unwanted books, and it's one of the least-known options. Organizations like Books to Prisoners, the Prison Book Program, and the Prisoners Literature Project send books directly to incarcerated readers who write in to request them.
Most requested: dictionaries, fiction (especially horror and urban fiction), Black studies, trade skills (carpentry, plumbing, electrical), GED prep, and re-entry resources. Note: some prisons (notably in Texas) now require new paperback books only — used books or hardcovers aren't accepted at those facilities. Check with the specific program before sending.
- Books to Prisoners: bookstoprisoners.net
- Prison Book Program: prisonbookprogram.org
- Prisoners Literature Project: prisonlit.org
Ship Internationally With Books for Africa
Books for Africa is the largest shipper of donated books to Africa, operating since 1988 out of Minneapolis. They accept quality used books, sort and pack them, and ship container loads to schools and libraries across all 55 African countries.
They accept: textbooks, library materials, children's books, and specialty post-secondary materials in good condition. Languages accepted: English, French, and major national languages. Check their website for current drop-off locations and container packing events near you.
Give Them Directly to Schools or Community Organizations
Elementary and middle schools are often chronically underfunded for library materials. A box of children's books, illustrated non-fiction, or young adult novels dropped off at a local school's front office is usually welcomed. Community centers, after-school programs, family shelters, and adult literacy programs are similarly receptive.
For more targeted giving, First Book (firstbook.org) distributes books to children from low-income families through a network of 500,000+ educators and program leaders. They accept donations of new and gently used books aligned to their current collection gaps.
This option requires a little more research — call before you show up with a box — but it creates the most direct relationship between your book and the person who reads it next.
Recycle the Rest
Some books genuinely can't be donated: heavily water-damaged, moldy, printed with margins full of ink, missing pages, or so worn that no reasonable reader would want them. For these, paper recycling is the right answer — not the trash.
Most curbside recycling programs accept paperback books as mixed paper. Hardcover books are trickier: the binding, glue, and cover material don't always qualify. For hardcovers, remove the cover and spine before recycling the pages, or check your local program's specific guidelines. Many local transfer stations accept books separately from household recycling.
Recycling is not a failure. Books are made of paper — keeping that paper in circulation is a genuinely better outcome than landfill. What matters is reserving recycling for books that have no remaining useful life as books.
Step zero: find out what your books are worth. Before donating or recycling, TroveScore scans your shelf with AI and flags books worth selling — free, no account needed.
Try TroveScore Free →Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do with books I no longer want?
The best option depends on the book's condition and value. Books worth $10+ are worth selling on eBay, Amazon, or via a buyback service like BookScouter. Good-condition books worth less can be donated to libraries, Goodwill, Little Free Libraries, or prison literacy programs like Books to Prisoners. Damaged books should go to paper recycling rather than donation bins, which saves volunteers the work of sorting them.
Where can I donate books near me?
Common local options include public libraries (call ahead to confirm they're accepting), Goodwill and Salvation Army thrift stores, Little Free Libraries (find one at littlefreelibrary.org), school libraries, community centers, and shelters. Many libraries also have dedicated donation drop boxes in their parking lots for after-hours drop-off.
Can I throw books in the recycling bin?
Most curbside recycling programs accept paperback books as mixed paper. Hardcover books need the cover and spine removed first, as the binding materials (glue, cardboard) complicate recycling. Check your local program's guidelines. Books in good condition should be donated before recycling — recycling should be the last resort for damaged or unsellable books.