The Power of Donated Books

What do we take?

We welcome any sellable book in good condition. This includes fiction, nonfiction, craft books, cookbooks, children’s books, and more! We also accept LPs in good playable condition.

What don’t we take?

There are certain types of books that simply have seen their time come and go and, unfortunately, no longer possess the capability to help us achieve our mission, such as encyclopedias, older textbooks, magazines, VHS tapes or books on cassette.

Donations from schools: We do not accept books with library stickers and/or markings from K-12 schools, and more than 10 copies of any individual title.

Tax Deductible: We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit, so all donations are fully tax deductible. Looking for a receipt for your donation, click here.

Publishers, Stores, or other Partnership Book Donations? Please contact Chris Salmon at [email protected] to get the ball rolling.

Want to Buy New Kids Books for Our Programs? Check out our Gift of Books offering for purchasing new books for Book Grants and North Lawndale Reads.

Where to Donate Books

Store locations: 

West Loop – 651 W Lake, Chicago, IL 60661

Donate Tuesday-Thursday, 12pm-6pm and Friday-Sunday, 10:30am-6pm. No more than four boxes per donation at this location, please.

PLEASE NOTE: Holidays and organizational events may affect regular store hours. Kindly check us on Google and Instagram for possible changes in schedule. Thank you.

Pilsen – 905 W. 19th St., Chicago, IL 60608

Donate Tuesday-Saturday, 12pm-6pm. While there is a 24 hour drop slot available, we ask that any donations larger than 20 books be brought to us during business hours in order to avoid clogging and overflowing the drop slot.

Weather permitting, the garage door will be open and you can simply drop your books directly into the available bin. If the garage door is closed or you require assistance, please enter through the door to the left of the garage and we will be happy to help.

If you have more than 15 boxes to donate, please call ahead at 312-243-9776.

PLEASE NOTE: Holidays and organizational events may affect regular store hours. Kindly check us on Google and Instagram for possible changes in schedule. Thank you.

North Lawndale – 3812 W 16th St, Chicago, IL 60623

Please make an appointment by sending an email to [email protected].

Drop Bin Locations: 

These locations can only accommodate 50 loose books at a time. Please do not bring boxes of books to these locations. And please, no dumping outside the bins. They are not intended for large donations.

West Loop – 645 W Couch Pl., Chicago, IL 60661 Right off Desplaines between Randolph and Lake St., behind our West Loop store.

Lakeview – The Nettlehorst Schoool, 3252 N. Broadway Ave., Chicago, IL 60657

Oak Park – Oak Park Library, 834 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60301. Access the alley by driving south on the 100 block of North Grove Avenue until you reach the cul-de-sac, then turn west (right).

Active Book Drive Locations

Wintrust Bank, 2300 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60625