Books are an essential part of our lives. They have the power to transport us to different worlds, provide us with knowledge and entertainment, and expand our horizons. But what happens when we’ve finished reading them? Instead of letting them gather dust on our shelves, why not donate them to book charities? Not only will you clear the clutter from your home, but you’ll also make a difference in the lives of others. Sounds like a decent thing, doesn’t it?
Unfortunately, not everyone has equal access to books and literature. That’s where book charities come in – organizations that work tirelessly to promote literacy, distribute books to underserved communities, and support authors and readers alike. By supporting these organizations, you can help make a tangible difference in the world of literature and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience the joy and enrichment that comes from reading. To save you from asking what charities accept books, we’ll explore the top book charities in the US in this blog post. So, gather up your old books and get ready to make a positive impact on the world!
1. ROOM TO READ
Room To Read takes the view that world change starts with educated children. Their goal is to improve reading skills, promote reading habits among primary school children, and achieve gender equality in education. The particular focus is made on supporting girls to complete secondary school. This non-profit book charity actively collaborates with local villages to establish schools and libraries across South Africa, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Zambia, and other countries so that children can immerse themselves into the bookish world of fantasy and imagination.
2. WORLD LITERACY FOUNDATION
The World Literacy Foundation is on a mission to eliminate poverty worldwide by promoting literacy. They strongly believe each individual should have access to quality education and reading skills to unleash their full potential, regardless of where they live. The foundation offers educational resources, books, and literacy support to children who are struggling with reading and writing. Through research, advocacy, and donations, WLF has successfully impacted the lives of over 315,000 children and young people across the USA, Australia, the UK, Africa, and Latin America. The efforts of this book charity include distributing books to families and children in different countries, supporting literacy education for disadvantaged youth, introducing innovative literary technologies such as e-books to those without access to physical books, collaborating with multiple world leaders to develop ideas for change, and partnering with parents to support their children’s literacy journey.
3. NATIONAL CENTER FOR FAMILIES LEARNING
The NCFL is sure that introducing literacy to families at an early stage can lead to a lifelong commitment to education. Involving multiple generations in the process of literacy building not only strengthens family bonds but also improves school attendance and equips parents with skills for better employment prospects. The organization recognizes that reading and education are not just individual activities but family activities. The NCFL has helped more than 2 million families across the United States through its various programs.
4. UNITED THROUGH READING
The United Through Reading program helps military families stay connected despite being separated due to deployment or military assignment. This can be especially difficult for children who may not understand why their parents can’t come home. UTR bridges the gap by promoting shared storytime experiences. The program is available to all branches of the United States military, including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves, and Special Operations Forces. Service members can record themselves reading aloud and share the video with their children back home. This not only strengthens their emotional connection but also promotes literacy and a love of reading. The United Through Reading states, “Our program creates emotional connections between parents and their children, supports literacy, and makes homecomings easier.”
5. PROJECT NIGHT NIGHT
Project Night Night helps homeless children “have sweeter dreams.” The book charity aims to provide a sense of security to homeless children aged 12 and under. They do this by donating Night Night Packages, which include a security blanket, a new book appropriate for their age, and a stuffed animal. The organization distributes over 25,000 of these packages each year, helping to reduce trauma and enhance the emotional well-being of the children they serve. The packages are designed to make the kids “feel secure, cozy, ready to learn, and significant” and are sent to those in need all over the world.
6. WORLDREADER
World Reader is a great book charity that aims to promote literacy across the globe with its low-cost technology and culturally relevant titles. Digital reading has the power to provide a library in the hands of so many people, and World Reader uses this advantage to reach out to places where books are scarce and reading is a luxury. The organization’s mission is to make reading easier for people and eliminate world illiteracy through education. The organization offers books in English, Spanish, Kiswahili, Hindi, and Arabic, supporting vulnerable and underserved communities and improving learning outcomes, workforce readiness, and gender equity.
7. PROLITERACY
The fundamental belief of ProLiteracy is that every grown-up person has the right to acquire literacy skills. They aim to develop and cultivate literacy skills in adults, regardless of their background. Be it immigrants attempting to learn a new language or socially deprived grown-ups who require assistance in enhancing their reading abilities, ProLiteracy is always ready to extend help. Sadly, around 36 million adults in the US find it challenging to master basic reading, writing, and math proficiencies. ProLiteracy’s goal is to transform this situation by advocating for adult education and literacy on a global scale.
8. THE PAJAMA PROGRAM
Every child deserves a good night’s sleep. This is the idea the Pajama Program adheres to. They strive to provide a soothing bedtime routine and healthy sleep for children to help them flourish. Their focus is on children in the foster care and adoption system, and they have been providing pajamas and books to kids since 2001. Does anyone collect books for charity for sleeping purposes? It appears so. To achieve their goal, Pajama Program offers bedtime resources and sleep education nationwide, as well as through local programs in New York City, Atlanta, and metro Detroit. They provide new pajamas, storybooks, and resources for caregivers to ensure that every child has access to the gift of comfortable sleepwear and a bedtime book.
9. 826 NATIONAL
826 National is another worthwhile organization on our book charities list. 826’s mission is to inspire the limitless potential of writing and demonstrate how it can be utilized as a means for youth to spark and direct their imagination, champion their own voice and that of their community, and attain academic and career accomplishments on a global scale. This organization provides a secure environment for children to nurture their writing abilities, enabling them to chart their own course in life, regardless of their situation.
10. LITERACY FOR INCARCERATED TEENS
LIT is a program that aims to combat illiteracy among incarcerated young adults aged 8 to 17 in the New York Juvenile Detention System. LIT achieves this by establishing and supporting school libraries in juvenile justice detention centers and providing age-appropriate literacy programs. The program also invites authors to come and give readings to these young people in order to encourage and maintain their interest in reading. The main objective of LIT is to supply these youngsters with books and programs that facilitate their growth and nurture their literacy skills and love for reading.
11. READING IS FUNDAMENTAL
Reading Is Fundamental is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting children’s literacy and is working tirelessly to combat the literacy crisis currently affecting the United States. It has established partnerships with publishers, schools, community centers, health clinics, migrant camps, and homeless shelters, among others, to ensure that books and reading resources are accessible to children in need. RIF’s main objective is to provide books to underprivileged children across the United States and support literacy programs nationwide. However, their budget has been severely reduced by Congress in recent years, which is a cause for concern.
12. BOOKS FOR AFRICA
Founded in 1988, Books for Africa’s main objective is to “end book famine in Africa.” They collect, sort, ship, and distribute books across the continent, sending over 50 million books to every African country. The volunteers carefully select books that are appropriate for different age groups and subject matters, accepting both new and gently used books from various genres. Check their website to find out how to donate books to charity. What’s more, Books for Africa work together with donors, publishers, and partners to provide books, computers, tablets, and library enhancement materials to Africa. They believe education is the key to equality, and books are the foundation of education, which can break the cycle of poverty and help young people achieve a better standard of living.
13. READING PARTNERS
Reading Partners aims to empower struggling young readers in low-income communities by providing individualized instruction tailored to their needs. The organization recruits and trains community volunteers to work with students who are identified as being six months or more behind reading grade level. These reading partners deliver tutoring sessions twice a week, helping students to develop lifelong literacy abilities and to improve their reading skills to reach grade level by fourth grade. Operating in 10 states across the US, Reading Partners mobilizes communities and partners with high-need elementary schools to offer free services to under-resourced students. Through this approach, the organization is transforming struggling readers into confident learners who are eager to learn.
14. FIRST BOOK
Since its founding in 1992, First Book has been instrumental in distributing over 160 million books and resources to low-income families across the United States. They work in a variety of settings, such as classrooms, after-school and summer programs, shelters, health clinics, libraries, and military support programs. The organization partners with companies such as Intel, CDW-G, and the LEGO Foundation to provide virtual learning and bridge the digital divide. First Book aims to transform the lives of children in need by providing affordable access to brand-new books and making a difference in their lives. The First Book Marketplace program makes learning materials more affordable, and the First Book National Book Bank is the largest clearinghouse for new books donated by publishers in the US.
15. CHILDREN’S LITERACY INITIATIVE
The Children’s Literacy Initiative takes a unique approach to promoting literacy, particularly among Black and Latinx children. Rather than simply providing books and resources, CLI works with Pre-K to 3rd-grade teachers to transform the way they teach literacy. Through job-embedded coaching, workshops, and book provisions, CLI helps teachers enhance their knowledge of literacy content and pedagogy, ultimately leading to improved literacy rates and opportunities for their students. CLI’s ultimate goal is to eliminate structural racism in schools. They believe that by starting with the teachers and coaching them on how to teach anti-racism, they can begin to initiate meaningful change.
16. EVERYBODY WINS!
The organization known as Everybody Wins stands out among other book charities for its distinct approach. This group sets up Power Lunches, where an adult mentor is paired with a child to read together. You can apply to become a mentor for one hour each week or make donations of money through their website. The organization has been around since 1995 and has helped over 60,000 children during that time.
17. READ AHEAD
The Read is an additional program worth mentioning. It initially began as a chapter of Everybody Wins!, but then branched off to pursue its own goals. This particular mentoring program aims to make reading fun and engaging for children by making it a shared activity. It is mainly focused on New York City, where interested individuals can find out if their employer is a Read Ahead partner organization or apply to join the Page Turners mentoring program. Presently, they are providing mentorship to over 1,000 students. So if you were wondering what charities take books, look no further.
18. FERST READERS
Ferst Readers is dedicated to assisting children in low-income communities who lack school readiness or basic literacy by focusing on the earliest stages of development. The organization’s goal is to ensure that these students have robust language and literacy skills before starting school. Ferst Readers provides age-appropriate quality books to enrolled children every month until they reach the age of five, as well as literacy resources for parents to use at home. By doing so, Ferst Readers strengthens communities and gives every child the best start in life. The program helps children develop their brains by exposing them to rich language and loving interactions.
19. REACH OUT AND READ
The Reach Out and Read organization is a literacy charity that focuses on promoting the cognitive growth of children between birth and age five, especially those from economically challenged families. Instead of working in isolation, they partner with pediatric medical providers to merge their approach with routine pediatric appointments. They encourage parents to foster daily shared reading and provide age-appropriate books to support the initiative. The organization aims to make literacy part of children’s doctor visits by partnering with thousands of medical professionals across all 50 states. They strive to integrate children’s books and advice to parents about the significance of reading out loud into children’s check-ups.
20. LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
Little Free Library is a renowned book charity that operates the world’s largest book-sharing movement aiming to foster communities, instill a passion for reading, and democratize access to books through a wide-ranging network of volunteer-run libraries across the world. You might have come across some of their libraries in your area or even built one yourself. These libraries differ in shape, size, and color. The book charity started as a small idea by a schoolteacher’s offspring who built a model of a schoolhouse filled with books to commemorate his mother’s love of reading. Currently, there are over 25,000 registered Little Free Libraries spanning across all 50 states in the US and 70 countries globally. The primary idea behind these libraries is to promote book sharing, where anyone can donate or take a book.
21. WATERBRIDGE OUTREACH
Waterbridge Outreach is a non-profit organization based in California that focuses on promoting literacy and clean water access in developing societies. They support both mobile and stationary libraries and provide indispensable materials for reading and education purposes. Beyond this, they also fund clean water and sanitation projects in these communities. By combining the power of books and water, Waterbridge Outreach aims to provide hope and a brighter future for children and developing societies. Their mission of nourishing children’s minds and bodies with books and water is truly admirable and makes them a popular choice among book charities.
Final Thoughts
Donating your used books to book charities is a simple yet impactful way to give back to your community and support literacy programs across the country. By clearing out your cluttered shelves and donating to book charity organizations, you can help provide access to books and promote literacy for children and adults alike. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in the lives of those who benefit from these charities. So, consider supporting one of these book charities, or check other organizations where you can donate used books today and help spread the joy of reading to those in need.
P.S. For those who are more practical and reluctant to donate their books, a viable alternative is selling your books out. BookScouter.com can assist you in finding the best buyback price for your used books or textbooks. If there are no buyback offers, they probably have no resale value. If you have many outdated books with no value at all, consider recycling them, but remember to do this the right way. We suggest reading our guide about book recycling or checking out the blog post on where to recycle textbooks. For those unsure what to do with their old books or what to do with old textbooks, check out the articles mentioned to clarify things once and for all.
