If you’re looking to pass some of your gently used books on to deserving organizations, and you’re located in Morgantown, “read on” to find where, and how to donate your books!
We list the types of books accepted by each nonprofit, and how to donate them.
Appalachian Prison Book Project (Morgantown)
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: Aull Center, 351 Spruce St, Morgantown, WV 26505
Type of Books Accepted: Nonfiction, fiction, Merriam-Webster dictionaries, paperback dictionaries/thesauri, how-to and self-help books, Wicca literature, classics, mass-market fiction, world almanacs, law or medical dictionaries, Western books
Type of Books Not Accepted: Hardcover books, romance, magazines, textbooks
Website: Appalachian Prison Book Project
How to Donate
Drop your books off at the Aull Center on weekdays or 9-1 on Saturday. The Morgantown Public Library requests that you don’t leave books on the porch.
This is a nonprofit that donates books to prisons specifically. Therefore, please bear in mind they don’t accept hardcover books, and the same goes for spiral bound books, as these can’t be moved into the correctional facilities they work with.
Why We Love the Appalachian Prison Book Project
The Project mails books to prisoners in WV, VA, TN, KY, OH and MD. The books are often requested by incarcerated inmates who write to the Project, as prison libraries are generally small and understocked. Some of their correspondence from prisoners is heartwarming, and truly shows the difference a donated book can make.
The Appalachian Prison Book Project was originally founded in 2004 from a graduate course on the history of literature and imprisonment by English professor Katy Ryan of WVU.
Morgantown Public Library Friends
Donation Type: Drop off, Pick up from you, Drop off in book bin, Trade/exchange
Primary Location: 373 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
Hours: Monday-Thursday 9am-8pm; Friday-Saturday 9am-4pm
Type of Books Accepted: Most books in good condition including cookbooks, travel, religious books
Type of Books Not Accepted: Magazines, dictionaries, thesauri, textbooks
Website: My MPLS
How to Donate
Drop your boxes or bags of books at the basement of the central library. The other five local libraries may take donations as well, but I recommend reaching out to them to check.
The Friends hold book sales in the basement weekly, with all proceeds going to much-needed funding for programs such as the Book Trail (pictured below!)
Pantry Plus More
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: 9 Rousch Drive, Morgantown, WV 26501
Hours: Contact to arrange a drop off
Type of Books Accepted: Children’s books, young adult books
Website: Pantry Plus Book Club
Email: info@pantryplusmore.org
How to Donate
This local Morgantown charity’s Book Club initiative aims to distribute books to underprivileged kids in the Monongalia County school system.
It’s unclear whether they accept gently used books, and they may want these to be in perfect condition, but reach out to them via email to arrange a donation as it’s a great place to donate kids’ books locally.
Cover image: Appalachian Prison Book Project