Now, let’s move on to Philadelphia. If you’re looking for places to donate your used books, we’ll give you a few recommendations today.
A while ago, we created a guide on where to sell used books in Philadelphia. We suggest you check it out first and maybe consider selling some of your best titles. We also encourage you to check the Philadelphia Bookstore Map, where you can find a store for every taste if you’re looking for more reads.
If, however, you’ve had your fill of sports romances or magical realism, are weary of the stack of books your kids no longer care about, or have decided it’s time others discovered Ana Huang (and why she’s such a hit)—and, most importantly, you’re willing to give your books away for free—we know exactly where each of these titles will be welcomed with open arms.
In this post, you’ll find a list of these and other organizations in Philly that take in book donations, from independent brick-and-mortar bookstores and local friends-of-the-library organizations to various nonprofits.
- Bookstores to Donate Books in Philadelphia
- Libraries to Donate Books in Philadelphia
- Nonprofits to Donate Books in Philadelphia
- Where to Donate Textbooks in Philadelphia?
- Where to Donate Kids’ Books in Philadelphia?
- FAQs
- BookScouter: Sell Your Books in Philadelphia
Bookstores to Donate Books in Philadelphia
Bindlestiff Books
📌 Address: 4530 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143
🌐 Website: Bindlestiff Books
Bindlestiff Books is a volunteer‐run neighborhood bookstore in West Philadelphia. They sell new and used books in the following categories: children’s books, literary fiction, graphic novels, art, cookbooks, history, labor studies, politics, and more. We haven’t found the details, but they seem to partner with Books Through Bars (BTB) to help collect book donations for incarcerated individuals.
We encourage you to inquire about their book donation policy by contacting them at (215) 662-5780 or via email.
Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room
📌 Address: 345 S 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
🌐 Website: Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room
Giovanni’s Room operates under Philadelphia AIDS Thrift, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping LGBTQ+ communities. They accept monetary donations and gifts. On their Donate page, they mention books among other items they accept. We haven’t found any details about their requirements, so we recommend checking out in advance by calling (215) 923-2960 or contacting them at info@queerbooks.com.
Project HOMEbooks
📌 Address: 1523 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130
🌐 Website: Project HOMEbooksk
Project HOMEbooks is part of Project HOME, a community that aims “to empower adults, children, and families to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.” Their social‐enterprise bookstore welcomes people who strive to overcome homelessness.
They especially need art and design, religion, and newer academic or technical texts on engineering or philosophy. Though those categories are a priority, they will take in nearly any book in good condition. You can bring in your gently used books Monday through Saturday, 11 am–6 pm.
They do not accept encyclopedias or periodicals.
Libraries to Donate Books in Philadelphia
The Book Corner (Friends of the Free Library)
📌 Address: 311 N. 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
🌐 Website: The Book Corner
The Book Corner is part of the Friends of the Free Library. Every purchase made in this store supports library advocacy in Philadelphia; new and used books are provided by donations. You, too, can drop off books directly at their shop inside the Parkway Central Library complex.
We haven’t found any specific information about donation requirements, so it’s better to check out by calling (215) 567-0527 in advance.
Hilltop Books (Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library)
📌 Address: Sorting Building, 97 Bethlehem Pike (across from 84 Bethlehem Pike), Philadelphia, PA 19118
🌐 Website: Chestnut Hill Library
Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library managed to open the Hilltop Books store thanks to donations, so they actively continue to accept books from the public every Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
They’ll gladly take in books in different genres in good condition.
They do not accept encyclopedias, outdated reference materials, periodicals, textbooks, legal books, Bibles, or badly yellowed, torn, written-in, or water-damaged books. You can bring in up to four boxes or bags without an appointment. But for larger donations, you can schedule a drop‐off via the online form on the website.
Nonprofits to Donate Books in Philadelphia
Philly Book Bank (Reading Recycled)
📌 Address: Martin Luther King High School, 6100 Stenton Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138
🌐 Website: Philly Book Bank
Reading Recycled’s Philly Book Bank collects classroom‐quality books for local teachers and schools. They distribute over 30,000 books annually and supply educators from across the city with books for their classroom libraries. They can also send home books to students.
They don’t have any specific guidelines, but judging that they “offer a curated selection of books for all ages, and as diverse as our city,” they accept pretty much everything. You can bring your donation to MLK High School (entrance on Haines Street), and if you have a large shipment, call (215) 279-7450 to arrange a pickup.
Cradles to Crayons
📌 Address: Multiple “purple bin” sites around Philadelphia
🌐 Website: Cradles to Crayons
Cradles to Crayons provides kids with the essentials they need. They welcome a variety of things for children, including books.
They accept new and gently used board and picture books, easy readers, chapter books, foreign language books, and they especially appreciate books with diverse character representation.
They do not accept family-themed, religious, or
holiday books. You can bring your bagged donation and put it in the purple bin. Check out the website for the map of locations in Philly.
Books Through Bars (BTB)
📌 Address: 4722 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143
🌐 Website: Books Through Bars (BTB)
Books Through Bars is a volunteer‐run nonprofit that has been sending free books to incarcerated individuals for over 30 years. They collect and send legal, educational, and recreational books for incarcerated individuals.
They accept only new, good‐condition, or lightly used books—“please do not donate a book to us that you would not gift to a loved one.”
They do not accept hardcover books, so please bring paperbacks only. The list of what they need and don’t need is long, so you can check their donation guidelines on their website or email them before dropping off your titles.
Goodwill (Philadelphia)
📌 Address: Multiple locations across Philadelphia
🌐 Website: Goodwill NY/NJ
Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey & Philadelphia accepts donations of gently used books, including novels, children’s books, and nonfiction titles, provided they are in good condition.
However, they do not accept encyclopedias. You can bring your titles to any of their retail stores or donation centers throughout the region (there are at least ten within a 10-mile radius of Philadelphia). They offer home pickup services for larger donations in partnership with Uber and ReSupply. Please check their list of requirements on their website before donating.
The Salvation Army (Philadelphia)
📌 Address: More than 80 drop-off locations in Massachusetts
🌐 Website: The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army also accepts donations of books in good condition. You can drop them off at local Salvation Army Thrift Stores or schedule a pickup through their website.
To make sure they need books and learn about specific requirements in Philadelphia, contact your local Salvation Army store (check the location by entering the zip code in the search field on their official website).
Where to Donate Textbooks in Philadelphia?
Philly Area Book Recycling
📌 Address: Contact for location
🌐 Website: Philly Area Book Recycling
Philly Area Book Recycling accepts recent college textbooks in good condition for buyback or donation. They typically pay about $1–$2 per book (more for newer textbooks).
They do not accept outdated editions, international versions, encyclopedias, mass-market paperbacks, or heavily worn books. For large donations, they offer free pickup services. To learn more about their guidelines, you can contact them via an online form or call (267) 726-4795.
BookSmiles
📌 Address: 7300 North Crescent Blvd. #10, Pennsauken, NJ 08110
🌐 Website: BookSmiles
BookSmiles gives “new life to used books and distributes them to promote childhood literacy, inspire readers, support educators, and strengthen communities.”
They accept all types of books, including textbooks, encyclopedias (which is rare!), dictionaries, and magazines. You can drop off your donation at their Pennsauken facility or various donation stations (three in Pennsylvania). If you have an estate library or a large collection of books (5,000+ or more), please contact them directly to arrange a pickup.
Tree House Books
📌 Address: 1430 W. Susquehanna Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19121
🌐 Website: Tree House Books
Tree House Books is a literacy center and a giving library.
They accept children’s books and educational materials, including textbooks appropriate for young readers. You can also buy new books off their Uncle Bobbies and Harriett’s Bookshop wishlists. It is open Monday through Friday, 10–6, and on Saturdays, 10–3. Please schedule the drop-off ahead of time by contacting emma@treehousebooks.org.
Where to Donate Kids’ Books in Philadelphia?
Reach Out and Read Greater Philadelphia
📌 Address: 3401 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104
🌐 Website: Reach Out and Read
Reach Out and Read Greater Philadelphia is a nonprofit organization that integrates early literacy into pediatric care. They provide children with books during medical visits and aim to promote reading aloud at home.
They accept gently used children’s books suitable for ages newborn through 10 years old.
They do not accept books marked with a library name, textbooks, encyclopedias, YA or adult books, holiday-themed or religious-themed books, used sticker, coloring, or activity books, cloth or “touch and feel” books, books with violent or weapon themes, books with toys or items attached, magazines, or books with batteries. Before donating, please contact them via email or call 215-590-5989 (press 1).
Books4Cause
📌 Address: Philadelphia area
🌐 Website: Books4Cause
Books4Cause accepts donations of books and other things to support literacy initiatives. They create libraries in Africa and local communities in the U.S. (“120 African Libraries Since 2009; 4 M Books Saved From Landfills”), so they’ll welcome your used titles.
They used to offer pick-up services, but since 2022, they have stopped conducting regular pickups in the Philadelphia area. Instead, they schedule based on their email list for Philly donors. Contact them to be added to the list.
GreenDrop
📌 Address: Multiple drop-off locations in the Philadelphia area
🌐 Website: GreenDrop
GreenDrop accepts donations of gently used books, clothing, toys, and household items on behalf of nonprofit partners.
They accept books and magazines, and you can drop off your donations at various GreenDrop locations throughout Philadelphia.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
📌 Address: 3401 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104
🌐 Website: CHOP
CHOP together with Reach Out and Read®, a national nonprofit organization we mentioned earlier, accepts brand-new, appropriate board books for infants and toddlers (newborn, 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24 and 30 months old).
If you want to offer a monetary donation, those are also appreciated.
West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC)
📌 Address: Contact via website
🌐 Website: WePAC
West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC) partners with local schools to nurture a love of reading. They create collections for K–8 libraries and welcome donations of new or gently used children’s books. They accept both fiction (including graphic novels) and nonfiction.
But they especially prefer titles on their curated wish list for core grades K–4 (picture books, early readers, early fiction, and nonfiction) and supplementary titles for grades 5–8.
They do not accept books with mold, tears, yellowing, scribbles, or personal inscriptions.
Not accepted are also encyclopedias, reference works, or religiously themed titles. To donate, simply email them at info@wepac.org or call 215-452-0333.
FAQs
What books can I donate in Philadelphia?
All sorts of books, from kids’ books to magazines and encyclopedias. Project HOMEbooks is interested in art books, as many as three places in Philadelphia we’ve reviewed accept textbooks, and many accept children’s fiction. WePAC specializes in educational materials for children (which is rare). Contact each organization in advance to learn more about their requirements.
Where can I donate books in Philadelphia?
Go through the list we’ve just provided and check where your books can be the best fit. If you need more options, check our guide on places to donate used books in the US. We also have very detailed guides with information about book donations in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
Where can I donate textbooks in Philadelphia?
Philly Area Book Recycling accepts recent college textbooks with some exceptions. BookSmiles also welcomes textbooks (and dictionaries). Tree House Books mentions accepting educational materials, but we recommend checking the details.
Where can I donate encyclopedias?
Interestingly enough, Philadelphia has a place that actually accepts encyclopedias. This is very peculiar because usually, these books aren’t exactly welcome, and many specifically list them among their non-accepted items. In the Philadelphia area, out of our entire list, six organizations specifically ask not to bring them. But BookSmiles doesn’t really mind.
Are book donations tax-deductible in Philadelphia?
Yes. When you donate books to a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Philadelphia (for example, Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey & Philadelphia or The Salvation Army), you can claim a federal income-tax deduction for their fair-market value so long as you itemize on your return.
BookScouter: Sell Your Books in Philadelphia
Helping others is great, but if you’d rather turn your used books into cash instead of charity, Philadelphia offers plenty of options to sell your books.
Or you can go straight to BookScouter, an online price‐comparison service that isn’t tied to any one city. You can be in Philadelphia or anywhere else in the US and sell your old copies with success and profit. Simply enter your book’s ISBN and instantly see quotes from more than 30 different vendors. In just a few clicks, you can see and compare their buyback prices, shipping terms, and payment methods. On the next step, you ship your book to whichever buyer offers the best deal.
With the BookScouter app (available on iOS and Android), you can do all this—but faster and more conveniently.
If you sell regularly, we recommend upgrading to BookScouter Pro Tools to have access to professional book-selling tools.
Consulting BookScouter first helps you know what to expect. And if you travel or have friends in other metro areas, don’t miss our city-specific selling guides for Atlanta, Ashburn, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Florida, and New York, as well as our Seattle roundup.
