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Donate Books

We couldn’t exist without book donations! However, there are certain kinds of books we always need and others we don’t. Before you donate, please check the guidelines below.

Donating books in person or by mail:

Our needs are always changing and our storage space is limited. Contact us before donating in order to ensure that your donation fits our current needs and to arrange a convenient donation time.

In your email or phone call, please specify in writing (not pictures):

  • How many books (approximately) you intend to donate

  • The condition of the books and whether they are hard or soft cover

  • The subject matter/genre of the books

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