In today’s post, we’ll discuss book donations again. This time, we’ll move on to the next destination: Chicago.
While you might have already tried some of our recommendations regarding the best places to sell books in Chicago, you may still have a few good reads on your shelves waiting for the new home. If you don’t plan on selling them, you can give them to people and local organizations for free.
This article by no means offers an exhaustive list of organizations that accept book donations. However, we tried to cover the most popular yet, at the same time, diverse options for you to choose the one that you like best.
If you have children’s books you no longer need, they will be welcome at Bernie’s Book Bank. You can also try Pickup Please for old textbooks, and you can definitely bring your Chicago-related architecture books to Preservation Chicago Library.
- Local Places to Donate Books in Chicago
- Online Book Donations in Chicago
- FAQs
- Sellin Books in Chicago: Give away and Get a Profit
Local Places to Donate Books in Chicago
Just like in New York, Chicago has plenty of organizations that accept book donations.
Chicago Public Library
Address: Multiple locations throughout Chicago
Website: Chicago Public Library
The library has 81 locations. Apart from a central library, there are three regional libraries and numerous branches. While we haven’t found any specific information about accepting book donations, some of these branches may use this method to enlarge their collections. We recommend you contact your local branch for more information.
West Chicago Public Library District
Address: 118 W. Washington St., West Chicago, IL 60185
Website: West Chicago Public Library District
West Chicago Public Library District accepts donations of gently used books. Adult and children’s books in good condition are welcome.
The organization doesn’t accept encyclopedia sets, magazines, textbooks in a bad state, and outdated materials (e.g., damaged, worn, torn titles with missing pages, etc.) You can only bring up to 2 boxes or bags at a time and drop them off at the library’s Circulation Desk. You can also get a tax receipt for donating books to this organization.
Preservation Chicago Library
Address: The Williams Building, 205 W. Monroe Street, Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60606
Website: Preservation Chicago Library
“Preservation Chicago protects and revitalizes Chicago’s irreplaceable architecture, neighborhoods and urban green spaces.” If you have architecture books or historical materials related to Chicago’s built environment, you can donate them to Preservation Chicago Library. By doing so, you can help preserve and expand this valuable resource used by many specialists working to protect Chicago’s architectural heritage.
Most of the books received are added to the library collection; some rare or original materials may be placed in professional archives for long-term preservation. Drop off or ship your books to their office, and if you have many titles, contact them for coordination.
The Newberry
Address: 60 W Walton St, Chicago, IL 60610
Website: The Newberry Library
Another library in the area that accepts donations is The Newberry (Chicago’s Independent Research Library). They sell the donated titles at the Newberry Bookshop and their numerous free public programs.
While fiction and nonfiction for all ages are gladly accepted, they do not accept textbooks, reference books (such as encyclopedias and dictionaries), newspapers, playbills, sheet music, vinyl records, VHS tapes, household items, electronics, or damaged books.
Before donating, contact them at contributions@newberry.org for more information. The donations to the organization are tax-deductible, and they can provide you with a receipt.
Open Books
Address: 651 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60661
Website: Open Books
Open Books is a nonprofit organization that collects used books in good condition and uses them in literacy and book grant programs across Chicago. You can bring your books in person or pick one of their multiple drop-off locations. They accept fiction, nonfiction, craft books, cookbooks, and LPs.
They do not accept encyclopedias, older textbooks, magazines, VHS tapes, books on cassettes, or books with library stickers and markings from K-12 schools. Please note that they are not accepting kid’s literature (until July 2025).
Books4Cause
Address: 2931 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Website: Books 4 Cause
Books4Cause turns book donations into libraries for local and global literacy programs: “Your Book Donations Make a Difference.” Their website states that since 2009, they’ve supplied 120 African libraries and saved 4 million books from landfills. They accept books, CDs, and DVDs. They no longer offer a pick-up service, but you can leave your titles at their drop-off locations. The organization only accepts books in excellent condition.
Donated items should not contain nudity, guns, tattoos, or travel maps. Not accepted: smelly, moldy, torn, and worn titles or library discards.
Pilsen Community Books
Address: 1102 W 18th St., Chicago, IL 60608
Website: Pilsen Community Books
Pilsen Community Books was founded in 2016 and transformed into Chicago’s only employee-owned and operated independent bookstore in 2020. Though they do not directly accept books for donation, they have a buyback program. They also partner with Liberation Library to provide books to youth in prison. Again, they do not accept donations from the public, but you can help by choosing one of their offers.
Bernie’s Book Bank
Address: 917 North Shore Dr, Lake Bluff, IL 60044
Website: Bernie’s Book Bank
Bernie’s Book Bank suggests, “Chances are, you either have children’s books you aren’t using or know someone who does. Please consider donating them to Bernie’s Book Bank.” Founded in 2009 and named after the founder’s father, this organization has distributed over 23 million books to underprivileged children. At the moment, it’s one of the most impactful book donation programs in Chicago. They help under-served kids and youth in the Chicagoland area get access to literature.
They accept new and gently used children’s books (up to 6th-grade reading level), including fiction, non-fiction, picture and chapter books, as well as graphic novels. You can bring books from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., leave them at multiple drop-off locations, or order pick-up services.
They do not accept activity books, coloring books, dictionaries, reference materials, religious books, or textbooks.
Book Driver Chicago
Address: 917 North Shore Dr, Lake Bluff, IL 60044
Website: Book Driver Chicago
Book Driver Chicago offers donation pickups throughout the Chicagoland area. By giving away your books to them, you can help support local literacy programs, used bookstores, libraries, Goodwill, and other Chicago-based organizations. Their pickups are limited to ten boxes (around 300 books), but larger donations are also possible. Please keep in mind that they only accept titles in good condition.
They do not accept magazines, encyclopedias, damaged books, legal books, or corporate training materials without ISBNs. If you want to donate rare or valuable books, contact them to discuss the details.
Brown Elephant Resale Shops
Address: 812 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Website: Brown Elephant—Howard Brown Health
Brown Elephant Resale Shops are part of Howard Brown Health. They have three locations across Chicago, and these are the places where you can find “fashionable finds, home décor, and everyday vintage style.”
They accept donations from the public and raise money through resale. The funds received are used to support the Howard Brown Health Center and LGBTQ+ healthcare. They accept books in good condition, among other things. You can contact them for more information at BEdonate@howardbrown.org or by calling them at 872-269-3535.
Uncharted Books
Address: 5140 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60640
Website: Uncharted Books
“A rare and used bookstore in Chicago. There may or may not be a secret room.” This store buys and sells used books, including rare and antiquarian books, as well as large collections and estates. They are looking for paperbacks, hardcovers, and most vintage books. However, they also accept book donations. To get more details, contact them at tanner@unchartedbooks.com.
Please keep in mind that they do not accept the following books either for buyback or donation: “textbooks, diet books, reference books, ACT SAT AP etc. prep books, bibles and devotional books, older self help and business books, Norton anthologies, older chick-lit and romance, computer manuals.”
Chicago Books to Women in Prison
Address: 4511 N Hermitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
Website: Chicago BWP
“We believe reading is a human right.” Chicago Books to Women in Prison (CBWP) is a volunteer-led organization that provides books to incarcerated women and trans people. They send the books directly in response to their written requests (about 200 and 400 orders each month). Donated books must be in excellent condition with no writing, damage, or loose pages.
They should not contain pictures of nudity, guns, or tattoos. No travel books with maps are accepted. There are also limitations when it comes to requested reads. Among the most popular requests are urban fiction, true crime, yoga, and books in Spanish. You can check the full list of all their book needs on their website. To donate, first email chicagobwp@gmail.com to confirm whether your offer complies with their needs.
Midwest Books to Prisoners
Address: First Trinity Lutheran Church, 643 W. 31st Street, Chicago, IL 60608
Website: Midwest Books to Prisoners
Midwest Books to Prisoners is another community-led initiative that supports “incarcerated people and their educational goals by mailing them books, magazines, and other printed material free of charge.” While at the moment, their website doesn’t seem to be working, you can contact them by sending them a message on Instagram.
The organization doesn’t accept hardcovers, religious, and spiral-bound books.
Online Book Donations in Chicago
First, you can check out our comprehensive guide on where to donate used books in the US. Now, let’s examine some of these organizations in more detail and focus on those that are more relevant to the Chicago area.
Better World Books
Website: Better World Books
We’ve already mentioned Better World Books in our posts numerous times. You can donate your books to them by leaving titles at their drop-off locations (check out the closest box in your vicinity). By contributing to this organization, you help support various initiatives.
Pickup Please
Website: Pickup Please
Pickup Please is founded and operated by the Vietnam Veterans of America. The service collects book donations from your doorstep, supports charities, and promotes reading.
You can schedule a pickup online, leave your books outside, and have them collected. The organization will gladly accept hardcover and softcover books, textbooks, and magazines. They also offer tax deduction receipts if you need one.
Operation Paperback
Website: Operation Paperback
Operation Paperback is a nonprofit organization that helps send gently used books to American troops overseas and veterans and military families domestically.
You can register as a volunteer and ship the books you want to donate from any location in the US. After registering, you will get a list of recipient addresses based on your book genres and personally send books with a note of support. One of the advantages of this program is that you can send as many book shipments as you want (no minimum or maximum limit).
FAQs
What books can I donate?
While the theme and genre of books accepted for donation may vary, one thing is required: your used books should be in good condition. Some stores and organizations focus solely on children’s books, while others prefer fiction and paperbacks only. It all depends on the place in question. We recommend you check their requirements before you bring your titles.
Can I donate textbooks?
It depends on the place. Some organizations may pass the books they collect to hospitals, kids’ learning centers, or elsewhere. Therefore, contact them first to make sure they need textbooks. Many thrift bookstores don’t accept textbooks or encyclopedias, and most places do not accept heavily worn and damaged books.
How do I donate books in Chicago?
You can bring your titles to the local stores and libraries in person. Find the place that’s closer to you, contact them to understand what they need, and bring your books. Alternatively, you can use numerous drop-off locations from charity organizations. You can also mail your books to online services that accept donations.
Are book donations tax deductible in Chicago?
Yes, donating books to certain organizations in Chicago can be tax deductible. For instance, “any books or materials donated to Preservation Chicago are fully tax-deductible as in-kind donations as permitted by law.”
In general, if you donate to a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, your donations are fully tax deductible. You can also read more about tax deductions for donations on the IRS website: Publication 526 (2023). However, please note that this is not a piece of legal advice, and you need to consult your tax specialist for a comprehensive answer.
Sellin Books in Chicago: Give away and Get a Profit
We’ve already mentioned selling your used books as a great way to declutter and make extra money. If you checked out our post about book-selling options in Chicago, you know that brick-and-mortar bookstores and online platforms have buyback programs.
Today, we’d like to remind you that you can always use BookScouter to compare buyback prices and find the best offers. More than 30 vendors buy back books and textbooks, and you can see all the offers on one page. If you’re looking for a handy tool to sell your old books, keep it bookmarked. Seasoned booksellers also use BookScouter Pro Tools and the BookScouter app (iOS, Android) for more effective sales.
You’re also welcome to check out our previous articles about Atlanta, Ashburn, Denver, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Diego, Boston, and Seattle, where we discuss various local thrift stores with buyback programs and online book reselling resources.
