Books for whom?

December 30, 2008 3:24 PM

Any organizations that need donations of hundreds of gently used, non-children's books. Not for resale at thrift stores.

I work for a non-profit that provides books to K-12 schools. We receive a donations of thousands of books a month and we sort out all of the most relevant books for elementary, middle and high school students. We're left with thousands of college and adult-level books that we usually donate to Books for Prisoners and Books for Africa. We've been fortunate to continue to receive more books than we can handle and that our partners can handle. Are there any other organizations that can use these types of books in bulk? They range from self-help to serial novels to really miscellaneous stuff. Any ideas for other organizations that could use them, specifically in the Portland, Oregon area.

This question is relevant: http://ask.metafilter.com/45859/Where-to-donate-books, but I've got bulk. Literally 5-6 full gaylord pallets of books.

posted by Skwirl to grab bag (13 comments total)

This may be too simple, but how about rural public libraries? I'm sure your local library in Portland can get you contact information for these often-overlooked places. I grew up in rural West Virginia and I can attest that the selection is much less than bountiful.
posted by keribear at 3:36 PM on December 30, 2008

I know you said not for resale at thrift stores, but I was just wondering if you had considered some thrift stores that are completely non-profit. For instance, one in my home area (across the country from you) turns everything beyond what covers costs to support the local children's hospital.

Also, previously on AskMe. I especially like the idea to donate to soldiers overseas.
posted by Night_owl at 3:50 PM on December 30, 2008

Oh, man. Missed that you already have the second link, but my first link is still relevant, I think.
posted by Night_owl at 3:52 PM on December 30, 2008

How about BetterWorld Books? They are my first choice when I want to buy a book because I love the idea of funding literacy programs around the world through the purchase of used books that have been donated. Book donors can choose the literacy program they would like their books to benefit. Donation terms.Whenever I mention a book on Metafilter, I always go to Betterworld Books website to see if I can link the book in question from there, instead of Amazon. Cos that's the way I roll.
posted by Kerasia at 4:32 PM on December 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

Ooops: That first link to Betterworld Books doesn't work. Forgot the .com. The proper address is http://betterworldbooks.com
posted by Kerasia at 4:34 PM on December 30, 2008

I thought that Jessamyn posted, years ago, a link to a man who was taking book donations and sending them to all of the poorest libraries in the country. I sent him a big box by media mail and it was very cheap ... I can't find the link, but if you're interested then maybe it will ring a bell with Jessamyn (or maybe I'm misremembering).

I'll see if I have it in my POP mail at home, though chances are slim with email that old....
posted by johnofjack at 5:26 PM on December 30, 2008

Your local hospital. I was at a volunteer office at the one in town recently, and man, are the pickings slim on the book cart. Anyone who isn't into paperback romances is totally out of luck.
posted by availablelight at 6:39 PM on December 30, 2008

Donate to women's shelters. Jails would probably welcome them as well.
posted by wherever, whatever at 7:30 PM on December 30, 2008

Prison Book Donation
Sounds like it's a good match, from their website: "We can use most non-fiction and fiction in new or very good condition."
posted by rmless at 9:12 PM on December 30, 2008

World Vision's Gifts In Kind program would be an easy way to move all these books to third-world children beneficiaries. Disclaimer: I work for them and thus am heavily biased that they do excellent work in helping said beneficiaries.
posted by allkindsoftime at 7:01 AM on December 31, 2008

whoops LINK
posted by allkindsoftime at 7:01 AM on December 31, 2008

And now I just read the question more closely. WVI might be able to get them to adult beneficiaries though, might still be worth at least a phonecall.
posted by allkindsoftime at 7:03 AM on December 31, 2008

Kerasia, thanks for introducing me to BetterWorld Books. I just did my first blog post using a link to them.
posted by jeri at 12:21 AM on January 1