The Best Places to Donate
Start local: most public libraries have a Friends of the Library group that accepts clean, current used books year-round for their book sales, and Little Free Library sharing boxes take a few books at a time (use the Little Free Library map, which has a 'Needs Books' filter). Thrift stores like Goodwill and The Salvation Army take hardbacks and paperbacks in good condition and resell them to fund their programs. For a drop-and-go option that funds literacy nonprofits, use a Better World Books green donation box — find one by city or ZIP on their donate map. Schools, shelters and senior homes often welcome books too.
Getting Rid of a Lot of Books
For a big load: Better World Books drop boxes hold about 800 books each, and for anything larger you can ship a bulk donation to their donations warehouse in Mishawaka, Indiana. Local Friends of the Library sales often welcome large donations, and some Little Free Library stewards will take 50+ books as backstock if you coordinate first. If you'd rather get paid, Half Price Books buys used books in person for cash or store credit (bring a government-issued ID; you must be 18+), with offers based on condition and demand. Charities like The Salvation Army also offer free scheduled pickups.
Condition Rules & Specialty Programs
Donated books should be clean and dry, with intact covers and spines and no mold, water damage or heavy writing. Most programs turn down out-of-date textbooks, encyclopedia sets, old magazines and condensed editions. Specialty programs route books to specific readers: Books for Africa ships current, relevant titles (children's, textbooks, science/medical) and has strict accept/reject lists; prison book programs (like Prison Book Program and Books Through Bars) need paperbacks — most prisons ban hardcovers — especially trade-skill, dictionary and legal titles; Operation Paperback matches books to troops, veterans and military families; and Reader to Reader supplies under-resourced school and public libraries.
What If They Can't Be Donated?
If a book is too damaged or dated to donate, recycle it. Paperbacks can usually go whole into curbside mixed-paper recycling, binding and all. Hardcovers generally need the cover removed first (it contains non-paper materials) — recycle the paper pages and trash the cover. Books that are wet, moldy or have yellowed, brittle pages can't be recycled and should be thrown away. Check your local program, since curbside acceptance of hardcovers varies, and use Earth911 to find a paper drop-off.