Today, we’ll check the book donation spots on the West Coast, specifically in Los Angeles.
As usual, we suggest you go through our Los Angeles guide with a list of buyback locations first. Many bookstores offer great prices for used books. While most don’t accept textbooks, some even take Korean books, so you can find the right store for your needs.
If your goal isn’t to gain profit, there’s always an option of donation. Today’s list covers the most popular Los Angeles-based bookstores, libraries, organizations that accept such contributions, and some of the online alternatives you can consider.
You can start with your local library first and then (depending on the books you have) check out other organizations. We’re sure your YA books will be well-appreciated by The Book Truck, your paperback fiction will find a new home with the Books for Jails program from LA County Library, and your gently used collection in the Literature and the Arts genre will be welcome at The Iliad Bookshop.
Now, let’s discuss these and other organizations in more detail.
- Local Places to Donate Books in Los Angeles
- Online Book Donations in Los Angeles
- FAQs
- Sell Books in Los Angeles: Compare Buyback Offers with BookScouter
Local Places to Donate Books in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Public Library
Address: 630 W. Fifth St., Los Angeles, CA 90071
Website: Los Angeles Public Library
The Los Angeles Public Library accepts book donations to support its own collections and services and also with the purpose of selling donated items at branch book sales. If you have books you’d like to give away, check your local branch library to see if they currently accept donations.
Also, if you have historically significant photos, manuscripts, or other archival materials, you can also donate them to the library. If you want to do more, consider volunteering and assisting with their programs and projects. Check out their Get Involved page to learn more.
Books for Jails—LA County Library
Address: Various LA County Library locations
Website: LA County Library
One more library in the area aims to support literacy and lifelong learning at LA County Jails. You can help it by donating lightly used books and materials. They accept fantasy, adventure, mystery, sci-fi novels, spiritual books, poetry, self-help books, and books in Spanish.
Please note that hardcovers, textbooks, pornography, and materials that depict or describe illegal activities are not accepted. All books must be in good condition. To learn about their terms in more detail or to organize a book drive, contact your local LA County Library location.
Libros Schmibros Lending Library
Address: 1711 Mariachi Plaza de Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90033
Website: Libros Schmibros
“Do books really make a difference? Yes, they do.” Another organization with such a peculiar name accepts book donations. Libros Schmibros is a bilingual lending library and used bookstore in Boyle Heights. Its mission is to promote reading and literacy in the community, and your books can be of great help.
Friends of the Mar Vista Library
Address: 12006 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066
Website: Friends of the Mar Vista Library
This volunteer organization supports the Mar Vista Library through fundraising. They also accept book donations. They accept gently used hardcover, paperback, and mass-market adult books, children’s books, graphic novels, instructional books like cookbooks, music books, and language books, as well as DVDs and CDs in their original cases. You can drop off your donations at the reference desk.
They do not accept books in poor condition, outdated travel guides, magazines, textbooks, or encyclopedias. If you want to make an impact in your community, you can also become a part of this organization by volunteering.
Re-Book It
Address: Los Angeles, CA
Website: Re-Book It
Re-Book It offers free book donation pick-ups in Los Angeles. Donated books then go to libraries, schools, and other organizations. It’s “a free community service provided by The Last Bookstore,” that offers free pickup and a tax receipt upon request.
You can schedule a pickup if you have at least four boxes of books to donate. Yet, it’s not just a donation program—it’s a movement to keep stories alive and make a real difference. Re-Book It helps books find new homes instead of ending up in landfills.
Access Books
Address: O. Box 64951, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Website: Access Books
Access Books supplies age-appropriate books to elementary schools in need. Since inception, they have helped over 301,000 children, refurbished 371 libraries, and given away over 2.3 million books.
They accept gently used, high-interest books in excellent condition for K-5 students and do not accept middle or high school books, self-published books, or textbooks. You can either use their various drop-off locations in Los Angeles (e.g., West Los Angeles, South Bay, and Malibu) or arrange a pick-up. Access Books is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, so you can get a tax receipt for your donation if you need one.
The Iliad Bookshop
Address: 5400 Cahuenga Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Website: The Iliad Bookshop
The Iliad Bookshop that we’ve mentioned in our post on where to sell books in Los Angeles is one of the largest used bookstores in the area. While they have books on many subjects and various genres, they are especially interested in Literature and the Arts.
At the moment, they only accept donations, though they usually buy used books as well. One of their features is that they only deal with customers in person, and there are no email sales and donations. Contact them for more details regarding what they are willing to accept now.
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Address: 4650 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027
Website: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles also accepts book donations to help distract small patients and their families during hospital stays. It’s important that all book donations be brand-new to eliminate the risk of infection. If you want to help with things other than books, the hospital also accepts monetary gifts, gift cards, and Amazon wish list items. Check out the hospital’s donation page for more information.
American Book Drive
Address: Los Angeles, CA
Website: American Book Drive
American Book Drive accepts book donations to support various charities and raise funds for schools, religious groups, libraries, and nonprofits across Southern California. Their goal is to help save books from ending up in landfills. Donated books are resold through 20 online marketplaces. You can pick any of their drop-off locations or schedule pick-ups.
BookEnds
Address: 2957 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064
Website: BookEnds
BookEnds is looking for quality, gently used children’s books suitable for infants to 18 years of age. Founded in 1998, the organization has donated over two million books. They offer several drop-off locations, or you can bring your items directly to the BookEnds office.
Recently, they’ve partnered with Milk+Bookies and announced that they will be leading their program, “BookEnds 2.0 = Milk+Bookies. It is now time to move BookEnds to the next level!” For more information, visit their website.
The Book Truck
Address: 733 Walnut Ave., Long Beach, CA 90813
Website: The Book Truck
This organization aims to “bring diverse, high-interest books to homeless, foster care, and low-income teens.” The Book Truck is always in need of great books, and the best way to meet their needs is to check their Amazon wishlist.
Mostly, they focus on YA or teen-friendly reads by popular authors, with a preference for diverse authors and stories. As a small organization, they don’t offer pick-ups and have limited storage space, so contact them in advance to discuss your donation.
Online Book Donations in Los Angeles
Reach Out and Read
Website: Reach Out and Read
Reach Out and Read says, “Books are mirrors and windows.” It’s a nonprofit that includes books in pediatric care programs. They specifically focus on increasing access to inclusive books for young people of all races and backgrounds.They accept financial donations to support various programs, but for details on physical book donations, we recommend checking their website.
Bookworm Global
Website: Bookworm Global
Bookworm Global’s mission is to promote literacy by collecting and distributing books to children and young adults in need. They serve homeless and foster youth, underprivileged schools, and community programs across Los Angeles.
The organization partners with schools, shelters, refugee programs, and many other organizations, such as School on Wheels and Corazon De Vida, providing thousands of books each year. They accept high-interest books for young readers up to 21 years old. Check their website for more information.
Better World Books
Website: Better World Books
Finally, you can always find one of Better World Books’ drop boxes in your vicinity and leave your books there. As we’ve already mentioned in our previous articles, they sell donated books to fund literacy initiatives worldwide, donate them further on, or recycle them. Either way, your gently used copies will find a new home.
FAQs
What types of books can I donate in Los Angeles?
Pretty much any type or genre, but requirements may vary greatly depending on the organization. For instance, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles accepts gently used children’s books and will unlikely accept textbooks, old library books, adult books, etc. Access Books will be glad to welcome K-5 books. The Book Truck specializes in YA and teen literature. We recommend checking with each organization regarding their specific donation guidelines.
How can I donate books in Los Angeles?
We’ve already shared our comprehensive guide on where to donate used books in the US. It contains various alternatives and offers details about organizations that work in this field. In Los Angeles, you can donate books by bringing them in person to local libraries, bookstores, or nonprofit organizations.
Some organizations, like Re-Book It and American Book Drive, offer free donation pick-up services in Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties, and others, like Friends of the Mar Vista Library, BookEnds, Access Books, etc., have drop-off locations.
Can I donate books internationally?
Yes, here are some international organizations to which you can donate your physical books (from LA or anywhere else): Books for Africa, Darien Book Aid Plan, African Library Project, Book Aid International (new books), etc.
Are book donations tax-deductible in Los Angeles?
Yes, donations to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are generally tax-deductible. For example, donating books to the Los Angeles Public Library is be tax-deductible. Re-Book It, though not an organization but a free community service provided by The Last Bookstore, can also provide a tax receipt from one of its partner organizations upon request. However, we recommend checking out IRS guidelines to understand the specifics of tax deductions for charitable contributions or consulting a tax specialist.
Sell Books in Los Angeles: Compare Buyback Offers with BookScouter
As we’ve already mentioned at the beginning of this post, there are plenty of book-selling options in Los Angeles, from local bookstores to online platforms with buyback programs. But if you’re looking for the most competitive offers, BookScouter is the tool to use.
One of the best advantages is that you can instantly compare buyback offers from over 30 vendors, choose the one that suits you most and has the most convenient shipping terms, and sell your book in a few clicks. This tool basically guarantees you’ll have the best deal for your books and textbooks. And for those who sell regularly, BookScouter Pro Tools and the book barcode scanner app from BookScouter (iOS, Android) are the must-haves.
A while ago, we covered book-selling options in other locations in a series of posts about Atlanta, Ashburn, Denver, Chicago, Dallas, New York, San Diego, Boston, and Seattle. You’re welcome to check out these articles for more details on local buyback programs and online resale options, especially if you plan on moving from LA to any of these locations.
