The short answer: if you have more than a couple of boxes, book a free doorstep pickup instead of driving them somewhere. The Give My Books Network sends a local Pick-Up Partner to your door at no cost, in cities across the United States.
If we don't cover your ZIP code yet, this page compares every other realistic option — libraries, thrift stores, schools, shelters and Little Free Libraries — so you can pick the right one.
Enter your ZIP code. If a Pick-Up Partner covers your area, you can book a free doorstep pickup in about a minute.
Every option below is free to you. The real differences are whether someone comes to collect the books, and how many they will take.
| Option | Picks up from your door? | How much they take | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Give My Books Network | Yes, free | Any size, including full-house clearouts | You want the books gone without loading a car |
| Public library / Friends of the Library | No — you drop off | Usually a few boxes at a time | Recent, clean, popular titles |
| Goodwill, Salvation Army, thrift stores | No — you drop off | Limited by store shelf space | Mixed donations dropped off with other household goods |
| Schools, shelters, prison book programs | No — you drop off | Small, and usually specific titles only | Targeted donations when you know what they need |
| Little Free Library boxes | No — you drop off | A handful of books | A few books you want a neighbor to find |
Local pickup days, drop-off options and partner details for every city the network serves.
In areas the Give My Books Network covers, a local Pick-Up Partner will collect your books from your doorstep at no cost — you don't need to drive anywhere or lift boxes. Outside those areas, the common free options are your public library's Friends group, thrift stores such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army, schools, shelters, and Little Free Library boxes. Enter your ZIP code above to see which applies to you.
Yes. Give My Books Network is a nationwide network of local Pick-Up Partners who collect book and media donations directly from your door on a scheduled day. Most national thrift chains have discontinued free book pickup, and libraries almost never collect, so doorstep pickup is the main difference between us and the alternatives.
There is no upper limit with a scheduled pickup — partners regularly handle estate clearouts, downsizing moves, and whole-library donations. Libraries and thrift stores typically cap donations at a few boxes because of shelf and storage space.
Fiction, non-fiction, children's books, textbooks, cookbooks, and paperbacks are all accepted, along with CDs and DVDs. Books that are water-damaged, mouldy, or missing covers cannot be resold or rehomed and should be recycled instead.
Deductibility depends on the receiving organisation's tax status and your own circumstances, so check with the organisation and a tax professional before claiming a deduction. Give My Books Network partners are independent local businesses, not registered charities, so a pickup should be treated as a free removal and rehoming service rather than a charitable contribution.
Pick-Up Partners sort what they collect. Sellable books are resold, which is how partners support their families and keep the pickup free for you. The rest is rehomed through our Give ME Books program, where schools, libraries, shelters, and nonprofits request free books for their communities.
Pick a date, and a local Pick-Up Partner comes to your door. It's free, and it takes about a minute to book.