Photo is © Herb, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license.
Where should one donate books? Other than the GC Library, there are many places around the city that would be happy to have your books. In some cases, you can sell your books for money. The following are only some of the many places in the city that will accept donations.
New York Public Library. NYPL will review gifts of academic titles for the collections that the Research Libraries do not own. Contact Jason Baumann at 212-930-0675. NYPL may request an inventory list or a representative sample of the donation.
The Strand Bookstore will buy your books and may even pick-up and pack your books in large collections! Click here to see the Strand’s guidelines. Call (212) 473-1452 ext. 240 for more information, or email [email protected].
Books Through Bars donations are dropped off at Freebird Books, 123 Columbia Street, Brooklyn, NY. Hours are Monday 7:30 pm-9:30 pm; Saturday 11 am-8 pm; Sunday 11 am-5 pm, (718) 643-8484. BTB guidelines and more details here.
Housing Works Bookstore Café guidelines here. For large donations, email [email protected] with details. Donations are accepted at the Bookstore Monday-Friday 10 am-8 pm and Saturday-Sunday 10 am-4 pm. Books can be shipped to Housing Works at 126 Crosby Street, New York, NY 10012 Attn. General Donations. Tax receipts are available if requested. For early closings, click here.
Book Thug Nation buys books in these subject areas. For large collections, email [email protected] to arrange a pick-up.
Word Up Community Book Shop donation guidelines here. For large donations, email [email protected] or call 347-688-4456. More details here.
Queens Public Library accepts large donations delivered to the QPL loading dock. Call the Circulation Desk Supervisor’s line (718) 990-0846 to offer the library a heads-up about donations and to schedule delivery (Monday-Friday) at the Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica, Queens.
Brooklyn Public Library accepts no gift donations. BPL will accept donations for books sales, but only at certain times of the year. Check the BPL web site for announcements of when books are being accepted.
Pick-Up Please is an organization that picks-up donations for veterans. They work quickly, arriving in a day or two after contact. Schedule a book pick-up here.
