How to Donate Books Instead of Throwing Them Away
Turn clean books into job funds, library support, and troop mail with these sort-and-drop steps.
You can donate books instead of throwing them away by taking clean, usable copies to a thrift donation center or library Friends group, or by mailing paperbacks directly to service members through a volunteer network. Check condition first, then match each stack to a taker that accepts that type. Paperbacks, children's books, and tidy hardcovers often find a second reader.
Torn, stained, moldy, or incomplete copies usually do not, so sort before you load the car.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 10, 2026.
What condition should you donate in?
Donate only books that are clean, complete, and able to be resold. Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries says staff are trained to turn away items based on condition, size, or inability to reuse, according to its what to donate guide. Its centers take books in good shape and stay open seven days a week.
The same source says donations help fund job training, career services, and community programs. Use this quick sort before you go:
- Keep - clean covers, intact spines, no missing pages, no odor.
- Set aside - writing, highlighting, water damage, mold, bugs, or loose bindings.
- Recycle - wet, moldy, or falling-apart copies your taker would refuse.
Will your library Friends group want them?
Many library Friends groups accept gently used books, CDs, DVDs, and games. The Friends of the Pleasanton Library says it sells those donations through book sales and a bookstore, with proceeds funding children's and adult programs and collections, as described on its donation page. The same group limits what it can use.
The Friends of the Pleasanton Library says it bars textbooks and encyclopedias older than five years, plus damaged, moldy, bug-infested, or incomplete books, and caps library-desk drop-offs at two grocery bags. Call ahead when you have boxes, not bags. Ask about sale hours, bookstore intake times, and any seasonal pauses.
Can you mail books to troops?
Yes, through a mail-based network with no drop-off site. Operation Paperback says volunteers register online, receive a service member's address, and mail books directly, according to its frequently asked questions. The same source says deployed troops accept paperbacks only because of space limits.
That makes this path a fit for light, intact paperbacks. Pack snugly, use media mail when available, and include only what the addressee requested. Keep hardcovers and multi-part sets for local drop-off.
Do you need a receipt for taxes?
Ask for a receipt at drop-off and value the books yourself. The IRS allows deductions for noncash book gifts to qualified groups at fair market value, which means the price a willing buyer would pay, as explained in its tax guidance on charitable contributions. That guidance also sets a paperwork line.
The IRS requires Form 8283 when any noncash deduction exceeds $500.