How to Prepare Books for Donation: A Step-by-Step Lubbock Guide
Step 1: Pull the Books You Want to Donate
Pick a starting point. A single shelf, a single closet, or one box at a time. Most people overestimate how long this takes. Plenty of donors run through their whole house in an afternoon. The decision tends to be quicker once you give yourself permission to send the obvious ones — books you finished, books your kids outgrew, books you never finished — without overthinking.
You don't have to do everything at once. Building up donation boxes over a weekend or a few evenings works fine. Schedule the pickup once you're ready.
Step 2: Pack Boxes or Bags
Use whatever you have. Moving boxes, banker's boxes, sturdy reusable bags, or even sturdy grocery bags. The one rule: keep each box or bag at a weight you can comfortably lift. A box stuffed full of hardcovers gets heavy fast and tears easily — and a torn box on a windy Slide Road afternoon means books all over the driveway. If a box feels too heavy, split it into two smaller ones.
Mix everything together. Hardcovers and paperbacks. Adult books and kids' books. DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, board games, and puzzles can all go in the same boxes as the books. There's no need to separate by genre, condition, or type. Your Local Pick-Up Partner handles all sorting offsite.
Step 3: Skip Books That Are Damaged Past Reading
If a book has mold, has been heavily water-damaged, or is physically falling apart, set it aside. Items that cannot be reused may eventually be recycled as a last resort. You don't need to triage carefully — pack what you have and let the partner sort. But if a book is unmistakably ruined, no need to include it.
This matters slightly more in Lubbock than in some other regions. Books that lived in a hot, dry garage for years can become brittle, especially paperbacks. Books that survived a winter pipe burst or a basement leak years ago can come out moldy.
Step 4: Schedule the Pickup
Enter your ZIP code on the Give My Books Network site. If a Local Pick-Up Partner serves your area, you can book a service day instantly. If not, your request enters the out-of-area pickup system where nearby partners may claim it.
Pick a service day, confirm the details, and you're done. The pickup lands on the partner's schedule automatically. No back-and-forth, no waiting for approval.
Step 5: Set the Boxes Out on Pickup Day
Place your boxes or bags in a safe, dry spot starting at 8 AM. A covered porch works well. A garage with the door cracked is another good option. The pickup window runs from 8 AM to 8 PM.
If a haboob or spring storm is in the forecast, prioritize covered. The South Plains wind can move a half-empty box across a yard, and dust storms make a mess of anything not under cover. Tape lids down on lighter containers, or weight the bottom with the heaviest titles.
You don't need to be home. You don't need to call or text. Set the items out and go about your day. Your Local Pick-Up Partner handles the rest.
What Happens After the Pickup
Many items are redistributed through the Give ME Books program to readers, schools, libraries, nonprofits, and organizations that request books. Some may be resold to help sustain the free pickup service. Items that cannot be reused may eventually be recycled as a last resort.
The pattern is consistent with how community book donation programs operate at a national level, as documented in part by the American Library Association's Book Donation Programs guide.
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Donating from outside Lubbock, TX, or just want the full picture first? Read our guide to where to donate books for a straight comparison of every option nationwide.