Donating books from our Bookshop.org wishlist:
All titles on our Bookshop.org wishlist are in demand all the time! If you want to purchase books from our wishlist, they can be shipped to us at 4722 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia PA 19143. And by ordering from Bookshop.org, you will be supporting small booksellers. Thank you!
READ THIS BEFORE DONATING
We are now accepting book drives on a limited basis! Please thoroughly review the guidelines below and confirm with us via email in advance. Large donations take a lot of time, energy and space to sort, shelve, and store!
We accept books only in new, good condition, or lightly used. (Please do not donate a book to us that you would not gift to a loved one.)
We do not accept hardcover books. Many prisons do not accept them and they are expensive to mail.
Please review the topics we are in need of (listed below). Other than the topics listed below, we will accept books on a case-by-case basis.
Please donate books in a box or bag that you do not need returned to you.
BOOKS WE DON’T NEED
(last updated 3/20/23)
Hardcover books
Computer / law / investing / resource guides older than 5 years
Books on secular subjects with hidden religious content
Piles and piles of general fiction (unspecified genre)
Books advocating sexism, homophobia, or white supremacy
Books with notes/underlining/mold/stains
Heavily warped/worn/torn/yellowed books
BOOKS WE Have more than enough of right now
Christianity
Romance
Plays
Poetry
Historical fiction
Children’s and young adult
General fiction (non-genre fiction)
LSAT / SAT / GRE test prep
Books specifically for women
Single issue comics
General self-help
Parenting
Politics
Statistics
Academic writing / journals
BOOKS WE could use more of
Cook books
World / US / military history / biography
Crochet / knit / origami / card making
Wicca / occult / vampire / werewolf / demons / ghosts
Role playing game guides: Pathfinder / Warhammer / Dungeons&Dragons
Computers: basic use / web development / programming / how to build (less than 5 yrs old please!)
General addiction self-help (not specific to AA or NA, etc.)
Business: real estate / personal finance / success / accounting
African / Latin American / Indigenous religion / spirituality
Native American fiction / nonfiction
LGBTQIA+: books for gay men / transgender resources
Celebrity biography / magazines
Collectibles / gemology
BOOKS WE NEED right now
Islam
Yoga
True crime
Mythology
Paganism
World atlas
GED prep
Rhyming dictionary
Beginner Spanish
Fantasy / Horror / Thriller / Mystery / Sci-Fi / Erotica / Mafia / Westerns
Black history
African History
Urban fiction AKA “hood books”
Barbering / hairdressing for ALL hair types
Books in Spanish: history / novels / religion / biography / magazines
Law: business / family / criminal / civil procedure / rules of court / case law (less than 5 yrs old please!)
Vocational: house construction / automotive / HVAC / CDL / plumbing / welding / electrical / small motor repair
How-to-play: guitar (tabs) / piano / song books / beginner AND advanced
Music bio / history / mags: hip-hop / metal / rock n roll
Art instruction: drawing / painting / tattooing
Art books with full page images
Fill-in puzzles: word search / crossword / Sudoku
Equipment free exercise (emphasis on building muscle NOT weight loss)
Wrestling / boxing / martial arts / American football
Business: investing / stocks / grant writing / how to start a business / marketing / management
Math: algebra / geometry / calculus
Science: biology / chemistry / physics / theory / astronomy / geology
Camping / RV / boating / travel guides / islands / mountains
Learning Arabic / Hebrew / Sign Language / Chinese / Japanese / Russian / Korean / German / French / Italian
Archaeology: Egypt / Mesoamerica / fertile crescent AKA “near East”
PDR “Physician’s Desk Reference” OR “pill book” / reference on medical conditions
Massage / Reiki / chakras / aromatherapy / astrology / tarot / crystals / palmistry
Conspiracy theories / secret societies: Illuminati / Freemasons / 5%ers / aliens / UFOs
Eastern religions: Buddhism / Hinduism / Taoism
Popular Authors (various genres and subjects) - Brandon Sanderson / R.A. Salvatore / Jim Butcher / Christine Feehan / Dean Koontz / Anne Rice / Catherine Coulter / Stephen King / Octavia Butler / James Patterson / David Baldacci / Lee Child / Clive Cussler / William W. Johnstone / K’wan / Zane / R.L. Stine / Napoleon Hill / Robert Kiyosaki / Robert Greene