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Where to Donate Books & Magazines

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Charity, Donations & Recycling > Where to Donate Books & Magazines



Donating a box of books and games

Nov 2007

I have a box of books, games/puzzles (not children's) that I would like to donate. Looking for suggestions on maybe a women's shelter or ? Thank you. Carol


You could mail them to soldiers stuck in Iraq or Afghanistan. Check out Anysoldier.com. Find the name and address of a soldier. Get one of those standard $8.00 boxes at the post office (you don't pay for it intil you actually mail it). Fill out the address and customs form according to specific and good directions on the web site and send it off. Some soldiers would be glad to get new reading materials and puzzles and any of the other items listed on anysoldier.com.
Anysoldier.com user

Recycling Books

June 2007

FYI, For ''Drowning in books posting'' and/or anyone clearing off their book shelves-- the Children's Book Project is a WONDERFUL resource...they take books ages infant-18years old and they then sort and distribute them for you...they go to daycares, preschools, school libraries, etc. If you have a lot of books, they'll even pick them up for you. We just donated several boxes and they were so pleasant and appreciative. For more information, you can see their website: http://www.childrensbookproject.org/ A book-loving mom


For the person trying to reuse/recycle books: try the local libray and then if that doesn't work, El Cerrito recycling center takes books, magazines, cell phones, eye glasses, clean plastic grocery and newspaper wraping bags, plus a full complement of the ''reguar recyclables'', and there is a Goodwill donation station there. The prority is reuse and then recycling. You can get more info at www.ecrecycling.org Heather

Where to donate Books & magazines for kids

Sept 2006

Thank you so much to everyone wh0 contacted me and donated items to Books for the Barrios - I was overwhelmed by the response! And if I didn't connect with you I'm very sorry, I received so many emails I had trouble keeping track!

If anyone is interested in donating the following items to Books for the Barrios, check out their website for information, they are located in Concord: http://www.booksforthebarrios.com/F2nd_Y.html

* Games and Puzzles
* Toys, Stuffed Animals and Tennis Balls
* Athletic Equipment
* Crayons, Pencils and Scissors
* Clean Scrap Paper
* Children's Storybooks
* National Geographic Magazines
* Encyclopedias and Dictionaries
* Computers (Pentium III, or IV in working condition only)
* Monitors ($20 Donation Fee)
* Little Girls Dresses
thanks to all! nancy

Donating college textbooks

June 2006

I have decided it is time to get rid of my old college / grad school textbooks. I have probably 3-4 boxes of science/math/engineering books that were used 10 years ago. I doubt that donation places (like goodwill) would want such technical textbooks. I don't think I could sell them on ebay due to their age. I would like to avoid just putting them in the recycling bin...any ideas of where I might donate the books? Amy


Check out Books for the Barrios to donate old textbooks. It is a great organization and easy to donate. Here's the link: http://www.booksforthebarrios.com/ F2nd_Y.html Michelle
I donate mine to public libraries jp
I came across a blurb in the latest O Magazine about places to pass on your used textbooks:

International Book Project intlbookproject.org The organization collects an extensive array of basic subject textbooks for pre-kindergarten through graduate school levels, general library books, nursing and other specialized medical texts, as well as popular and technical journals, reference materials, and fiction. The organization's partners include primary and secondary schools, universities, libraries, hospitals, churches, orphanages, and Peace Corps volunteers around the world.

Books for Soldiers booksforsoliders.com At this site, soliders, sailors, and merchant marines make requests in an online forum; you send books directly to the soliders. It's kind of like a book ebay site.

Hope your books find a good home Zaretta


June 2003

I'm finally parting with a bunch of textbooks that I've had since grad school--not sure why I've kept them this long except for sentimental reasons. It doesn't seem that a library would be interested in a donation of textbooks. Is there any organization that would accept/benefit from them? These are business school textbooks covering the usual topics: finance, accounting, marketing, economics, etc. Clarisse


You can donate them to the ''friends of the library'' association of your local branch. They won't put them on the shelves, but they will sell them at their booksales and the money does benefit the library.
Just a note regarding used textbooks. Someone recommended Friends of the Library taking them and using them at their sales. I am not sure where you live, but in Contra Costa County, Friends of the Library does not even want them. They specifically note that on their donation bins. It's tough to find someone who will take them. You might try Books for Barrios -- don't have the #, but I think that they will take them. Sorry I can't help more! Trish

Where to donate/recycle books and magazines

July 2004

Hi, I have tons of books and magazines to get rid of. I didn't know if there is a place I can recycle these old magazines and books. Does anyone know? moving soon


A couple of suggestions: 1. If your magazines are no more than one year old, you can leave them at the magazine exchange at the North Berkeley Library (Hopkins at the Alameda).

2. If the magazines and books may be of interest to older folks, ask the folks at your nearby senior center if they might like to have them.

3. Books in decent condition can be donated to libraries, usually through their ''Friends of...'' organization. In most cases, the books are them offered for sale at the library's fund-raising book sales.

4. Children's and teen books in good condition can be donated to Children's hospital. R.K.


You can take old books to Friends of the Library book store on Durant Ave, just below Telegraph. Call Main Library to find out details. Maybe they take magazines also. You can also take some books to individual branch libraries where they sell them for $1.00 or so. anon

Donating old magazines

June 2004

We have a box of old (average about 1-2 years old) magazines that range the gamut from New Yorker, to Climbing, to Self, and Fit Pregnancy, etc. Since most of the articles aren't super time-sensitive, it seems a shame to toss these all into our recycling can. Does anyone know of a good place to donate them? I imagine hospitals, government aid waiting rooms, even places that want English texts to teach English might have some use for them. Sarah


There is a great magazine exchange rack at the North Berkeley branch library. People leave their magazines, and can take others if they like. It's on a big baker's type rack near the door. anne

Want to donate a few crates of books

April 2003

Any suggestions for where I might donate used books? I have a few small crates I'd like to get rid of (not sell) and I am hoping someone can use them for charitable purposes. Liz O.


Do you have some used books to donate to a worthy cause? I am seeking used book donations for Crowded Fire Theater Company. We sell the books through Amazon.com, Ebay, and local booksellers to raise money for our nonprofit theater program. For directions and more information, please visit our web site: www.crowdedfire.org/firebooks If you have any questions, or for other ways to donate books, please contact me: mitchellATcrowdedfireDOTorg Thank you! Mitchell
I recommend the Friends of the Berkeley Library -- http://www.infopeople.org/bpl/support/friends.html , located underneath the Sather Gate garage southside of campus. You can bring in your donation any time it's open, and they'll validate your parking. Just park in the garage, take the elevator down, and you're right there. They'll give you a tax receipt, too. I just donated three bags of books (making room for babies!), and they are very grateful and nice there. Wendy
A few ideas: With public school libraries severely underfunded, they may want some of your books. Bananas (on Claremont near Telegragh) accepts donations of books that child-care providers can take. I don't know if it is still there, but Cody's had a drop-off bin to donate books to a charity. You don't have to buy the books there to donate them. Senior Centers often accept donations of books for their clients. Every public library in this area accepts donations that they will either keep or sell at their fund-raising book sales. El Cerrito Recycling Center has a free book exchange. R.K.
Most libraries take book donations. They give you a receipt for tax deduction purposes, and then sell the books at their Friends of the Library sales to raise money for the branch. Claire
Berkeley public library.
Try the Berkeley Public Library's Friends of the Library shop-- they are located on the ground floor of the Channing Street garage. Also, a fabulous place to buy LOTS of inexpensive and wonderful books! Saskia
We donated some books to the Berkeley Public Library. I believe the group Friends of the Library maintains a little store to the right when you enter the front door.

Moe's book shop on Telegraph also collects books that go to prison libraries. Susan Persin


You might consider giving them to your local library. I know the BPL has a regular book sale, at which they sell used and deaccessioned books as part of their fundraising. Oakland PL may do the same. Wendy
Friends of the oakland Public library. On washington between 7th & 8th, in old oakland. They sell donated books to help fund the oakland library.
The El Cerrito Library, a branch of the Contra Costa County Libraries, accepts book donations. They sell them at fund-raising sales to benefit the library. The same is probably true for every library... -- a reader and library patron

Selling or donating French literature paperbacks

July 2002

I'm considering selling or donating my collection of French literature paperbacks (left over from my college days). Any suggestions? Elysse


Hello Elysse, I teach French at San Domenico School and I don't have a lot of French litterature available for my students to read during their free time. Which books do you have and how many??? I would be interested to take them! Isabelle
Elysse- I collect books that I dirstribute for free in economically- challenged areas of the East Bay. If you'd like to dontate your books, I'll pick them up. Send email to elaineATalumDotcalberkeley.org Thanks! Elaine Connolly, Hey, Read This!

Donating old videos

Feb 2003

Hi, we have about 20 old videos that we would like to get rid of. They consists of movies and sports. Does anyone know where we could give them away, like a library or a school? Thanks Ruthy


The Family Resource & Information Center at Children's Hospital Oakland lends videos to families whose children are hospitalized. Our collection depends entirely donations. We are especially interested in videos for older children, though have a PG-13 maximum rating limit. For more information, feel free to contact us at 428-3549. Thanks very much. Christine
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