Donate Books
Our work wouldn’t be possible 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 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 currently need (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.
“What kind of books do we need most right now?” (last updated 4/15/24)
BOOKS WE NEED Right Now
Genre fiction: Mystery / Western / Urban “Hood Books” / Mafia / Spy / Erotica
Manga
Coloring
Paganism
Mythology
GED test prep
Beginner Spanish
Books in Spanish
History (Especially Black/African!)
Archaeology
Daily / Weekly planner
Art books with full page images
Urban fiction AKA “hood books”
Math: algebra / geometry / calculus
Art instruction: drawing / painting / tattooing
Business: investing / stocks / grant writing / how to start a business / marketing / management
Barbering / hairdressing for ALL hair types
Fill-in puzzles: word search / crossword / sudoku
LGBTQIA+: books for gay men / transgender resources
Wicca / occult / vampire / werewolf / demons / ghosts
How-to-play: guitar (tabs) / song books / beginner AND advanced
Role playing game guides: Pathfinder / Warhammer / Dungeons&Dragons
Equipment free exercise (emphasis on building muscle NOT weight loss)
Computers: basic use / web development / programming / how to build (less than 5 years old please!)
Learning Arabic / Hebrew / Sign Language / Chinese / Japanese / Russian / Korean
Vocational: automotive / HVAC / CDL exam & trucking / plumbing / welding / small motor repair
Conspiracy theories / secret societies: Illuminati / Freemasons / the Knights Templar / 5%ers / aliens / UFOs
Music bio / history / mags: hip-hop / metal / rock n roll
Science: biology / chemistry / physics / theory / astronomy / geology
Wrestling / boxing / martial arts / American football
Camping / RV / boating
PDR “Physician’s Desk Reference” OR “pill book” / reference on medical conditions
Chakras / astrology / tarot / crystals / palmistry
BOOKS WE don’t NEED
Hardcover books
Computer / law / investing / resource guides older than 5 years
Books on secular subjects with religious tone / content
Piles and piles of general fiction (non specific 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 / Islam / Judaism
Thriller / Sci - Fi / Fantasy (WOW!)
Plays
Poetry
Children’s and young adult
General fiction (non-genre fiction)
LSAT / SAT / GRE test prep
Books specifically for women
Parenting
Politics
Academic writing / journals
BOOKS WE could use more of
Yoga
Self-help
True crime
Hinduism / Taoism
National Geographic
Crochet / origami / card making
Vocational: house construction / electrical
General addiction self-help (not specific to AA or NA, etc.)
African / Latin American / Indigenous religion/spirituality
Cars / motorcycles / trucks / big rigs / trains / boats
Celebrity biography / magazines
Collectibles / gemology
Law: criminal / civil procedure / rules of court / case law
(less than 5 years old please!)