--- title: "How to Prepare Books for Donation: A Step-by-Step Guide" description: "Follow our Scottsdale guide on how to prepare books for donation. Get tips on packing and weather protection to ensure a smooth doorstep pickup process." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://givemybooksnetwork.com/#organization", "name": "Give My Books Network", "legalName": "Book Sourcing Mastery, LLC", "url": "https://givemybooksnetwork.com", "logo": "https://givemybooksnetwork.com/social-card.jpg", "image": "https://givemybooksnetwork.com/social-card.jpg", "description": "Give My Books Network is a nationwide United States network of local Pick-Up Partners who collect used books, textbooks, CDs and DVDs for free directly from the donor's door, resell what is sellable and rehome the rest to schools, libraries, shelters and nonprofits.", "foundingDate": "2022", "telephone": "+1-855-506-8633", "email": "support@givemybooksnetwork.com", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "2091 Stratton Ct.", "addressLocality": "Ann Arbor", "addressRegion": "MI", "postalCode": "48108", "addressCountry": "US" }, "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "telephone": "+1-855-506-8633", "contactType": "customer service", "email": "support@givemybooksnetwork.com", "availableLanguage": "English" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/givemybooksnetwork", "https://www.instagram.com/givemybooksnetwork", "https://twitter.com/givemybooks" ], "areaServed": { "@type": "Country", "name": "United States" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "Give My Books Network", "legalName": "Book Sourcing Mastery, LLC", "url": "https://givemybooksnetwork.com", "logo": "https://givemybooksnetwork.com/social-card.jpg", "image": "https://givemybooksnetwork.com/social-card.jpg", "description": "Give My Books Network provides free door-to-door book donation pickup services across the United States. We collect books, textbooks, CDs, DVDs, and more – giving your items a second life while supporting literacy programs.", "foundingDate": "2022", "telephone": "+1-855-506-8633", "email": "support@givemybooksnetwork.com", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "2091 Stratton Ct.", "addressLocality": "Ann Arbor", "addressRegion": "MI", "postalCode": "48108", "addressCountry": "US" }, "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "telephone": "+1-855-506-8633", "contactType": "customer service", "email": "support@givemybooksnetwork.com", "availableLanguage": "English" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/givemybooksnetwork", "https://www.instagram.com/givemybooksnetwork", "https://twitter.com/givemybooks", "https://littlefreelibrary.org/book-resource/give-my-books-network-give-me-books-program/" ], "areaServed": { "@type": "Country", "name": "United States" } } ] --- Feedback ![Give My Books Network Logo](/assets/gmbn-logo-BsMIhLrP.png) - Learn More Schedule Pick-UpGive ME BooksBecome a Pick-Up Partner Sign In Home› Scottsdale, AZ› Learn More # How to Prepare Books for Donation Follow our Scottsdale guide on how to prepare books for donation. Get tips on packing and weather protection to ensure a smooth doorstep pickup process. Schedule Free Pickup ![A stylized city skyline at golden hour with books in the foreground](/assets/city-scene-fallback-yglTcFEu.jpg) Scottsdale, AZ # How to Prepare Books for Donation: A Step-by-Step Scottsdale 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 do not have to do everything at once. Building up donation boxes over a weekend or a few evenings works fine. Schedule the pickup once you are 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, especially in summer heat. 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 is no need to separate by genre, condition, or type. Your Local Pick-Up Partner handles all sorting after collection. ## Step 3: Skip Most 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 do not 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 Scottsdale than in some other regions. Books that have lived in a hot, dry garage for years can become brittle, with covers cracking and pages flaking. Books that survived a monsoon flood can come out moldy. Use judgment, but err on the side of including borderline items. ## 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 are 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. A shaded carport keeps things out of direct desert sun. The pickup window runs from 8 AM to 8 PM. If a monsoon storm is in the forecast, prioritize covered. A summer afternoon downpour will ruin uncovered boxes fast. Otherwise, the standard advice — covered, dry, accessible — applies. You do not need to be home. You do not need to call or text. Just 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](https://libguides.ala.org/book-donations). ### Ready to schedule your free Scottsdale book pickup? We'll come to your door — no cost, no hassle. Book pickup, DVD pickup, large-quantity, estate, and more in Scottsdale, AZ. Schedule Free Pickup Or browse all Scottsdale donation services including Community Book-Sharing Program , Children's Book Donations , Textbook Donations . Not sure whether a pickup or a drop-off makes more sense for what you have? Our [where to donate books](/where-to-donate-books) guide walks through the decision honestly, including the cases where another organisation is the better fit. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How heavy can I pack the boxes for a Scottsdale book pickup? ### Do I need to label or organize my donation boxes for Scottsdale pickup? ### Should I clean books before donating them in Scottsdale? ### Where exactly should I leave the boxes on Scottsdale pickup day? ### How do monsoon storms affect Scottsdale pickups? ### How long should I expect the pickup to take? ## More from Scottsdale Learn More Best Places to Donate Books in 2026 Learn More How to Get Rid of a Large Collection of Books Learn More Should You Donate or Throw Away Old Books? Service Community Book-Sharing Program in Scottsdale Service Children's Book Donations in Scottsdale Service Textbook Donations in Scottsdale Back to Scottsdale Donation Services ## Find us in Scottsdale Our local Pick-Up Partners serve the Scottsdale area. If your exact address is inside our service area, you can book a doorstep pickup today. Loading map of Scottsdale, AZ… ## Ready to clear your shelves? Join thousands of Scottsdale neighbors who have already donated their books through the Network. Schedule Free Pickup ![Give My Books Network Logo](/assets/gmbn-logo-BsMIhLrP.png) **America's Nationwide Community Book-Sharing Network.** Free book and media pickup service! Local Pick-Up Partners collect your donated books, CDs, DVDs, and media right from your doorstep. They resell to support their families and can donate through our Give ME Books program. #### Quick Links About UsWhere to Donate BooksGive ME BooksFor LibrariesPick-Up RequestBecome Pick-Up PartnerBecome an AffiliateFAQsContact Us #### Follow [](https://facebook.com/givemybooksnetwork)[](https://x.com/givemybooksnet)[](https://instagram.com/givemybooksnetwork) Privacy| Acceptable Use Policy| Disclaimer| Terms of Use| SMS Policy| [EntityMap](/entitymap.html "Structured entity index of this site for AI systems") © 2026 Give My Books Network, All rights reserved