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 as of July 2025 we are pausing pickups until the fall. Due to many generous donations in the last few months, our team is still busy sorting through them! If you have the means, we accept books that are dropped off at our locations. 

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 Chris Salmon at csalmon@open-books.org 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-Sun 10:30am-6pm. No more than four boxes per donation at this location, please.

Logan Square – 2068 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647

Donate 7/days a week, Mon-Sun 10:30am-6pm. Please use 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

1. The Bike Lane, 2130 N Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, Il 60647
2. Out of the Closet, 3311 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60657
3. Wintrust Bank, 2300 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
4. 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.