Donate Books
Free Pick Up Service!
Drop Bins in Chicago!
Donations Accepted at our Stores!
We Love Books!
The Power of Donated Books
Each year, generous readers donate hundreds of thousands of books to support literacy. We sell those books in our stores and online to help fund our programs, and use and give them away in our literacy and book grant programs. Our book department produces zero waste, and we give away 2.5 books for every 3 we sell.
What do we take?
**Please note that we are not able to pick up children’s books from October 24th-January 1st. Due to many generous donations of children’s books this last few months, our team is still busy sorting through them! Please inquire about picking up kids books in the new year.
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 markings from K-12 schools.
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.
Want to host a book drive for Open Books? Here’s everything you need to know: The Book Drive Guide
Publishers, Stores, or other Partnership Book Donations? Please contact Ryan Jackson, Managing Director, [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 7/days a week, Mon- Thurs 10:30 am-6pm Fri-Sun 11:30-7pm E. No more than four boxes per donation at this location, please.
Logan Square – 2068 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647
Donate 7 days/week, Mon- Thurs 10:30 am-6pm Fri-Sun 11:30-7pm Enter through the front door on Milwaukee. No more than four boxes per donation at this location, please.
Pilsen – 905 W. 19th St., Chicago, IL 60608
Drop slot in front of building available 24 hours a day. Larger donations accepted during store hours, 7 days a week, 10am-6pm.
If you have more than 15 boxes to donate, please call ahead at 312-243-9776.
North Lawndale – 3812 W 16th St, Chicago, IL 60623
Donate 2 boxes or up to 100 books Tuesday 3-6pm, Wednesday 9-12pm, Thursday 3-5pm, and Saturday 11-3pm.
Drop Bin Locations:
Please Read: 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. Request a pickup below if you have more than 50 books to donate and can’t bring them to an above store location.
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
River North – 802 W. Superior, Chicago, IL 60642
Skokie – BINS CLOSED
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
- The Bike Lane, 2130 N Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, Il 60647
- Tone Deaf Records, 4356 W Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, Il 60641
- Out of the Closet, 3311 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60657
- Wintrust Bank, 2300 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
- The Chicago Tool Library, 4015 W. Carroll Ave, Chicago, IL 60624
Parking and entrance NOT on Carroll Ave – please use the alley to the south of Carroll Ave. Check website for current hours.
Need a Pick Up?
Fill out the form below. We’re on the road M-F, 10am-4pm in our Booksmobile!
**Please note that we are not able to pick up children’s books from October 24th-January 1st. Due to many generous donations of children’s books this last few months, our team is still busy sorting through them! Please inquire about picking up kids books in the new year.
Interested in a FREE Pick Up? Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch!
- There is currently a wait time of approximately 3 weeks, depending on which neighborhood you are requesting. We’ll try to get to you as soon as possible!
- Pick Up Area: Our pick up radius is within the City of Chicago and near suburbs bound by the Tollway (294). See the map below for more details. We will make exceptions for larger collections, get in touch!
- We prefer books to be located outside or on the ground floor of any building. Let us know where your books will be located on the form and we’ll be in touch about any special requests.
How To Package Books
Pack your books into cardboard boxes or plastic bins no larger than 12″x12″x16″. We accept books in paper bags with handles, but we DO NOT accept books in garbage bags.