If you’re from San Francisco and not sure where the best places to donate old books are, then you’ve found the right place!
We’ve compiled a list of where to donate books in San Francisco, so after you’re done Kon Mari-ing your home, you can help a great local cause in your area.
Children’s Book Project
Donation Types: Drop off, Drop off in book bins, Book drive
Location: 1360 43rd Avenue, Room 105, San Francisco
Hours: Mon & Thu 3:30pm – 6pm; Wed 10am – 12pm; first Saturday of each month: 10am-1pm
Types of Books Accepted: Children’s books, board books, Spanish and Chinese language books for kids, popular series for 8-12 year olds, graphic novels
Types of Books Not Accepted: Religious books, non-fiction books for children over 10 years old
Other Locations: SF, Peninsula, East Bay and Marin book bin locations can be found here for easy drop offs
Website: Children’s Book Project
How to Donate
You can drop off books in person at their physical address above, or take advantage of the numerous book bins around San Francisco and the bay area.
The Children’s Book Project also encourages you to hold a book drive if you feel strongly enough about their cause and have the resources to. Just reach out to them for more info.
The Children’s Book Project is always in need of high interest, new or gently used books for children of all ages, from babies to teenagers.
I put some guidelines on what is and isn’t currently accepted above, but for a full list of what’s accepted, needed and not accepted you can find it on their website above.
Why We Love Children’s Book Project
The project empowers teachers and caseworkers by allowing them to come to their Book Bank and choose books that they think would best be suited to their children.
They actually have a number of programs within their organization, such as their “Read Aloud” initiative which aims to level up teachers and anyone working with children to be able to help parents, or anyone, with story time and “reading aloud” to their children.
They also run an initiative for teenagers 16+ to come into their Book Bank and sort through the books. This is a super helpful way to involve a group of the community that might not usually be thought of when it comes to book charities, and a great way for high school/college students to contribute.
Prisoners Literature Project
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: Bound Together Books, 1369 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Hours: 11:30-7:30pm daily, but call ahead on (415) 431-8355 to check if someone will be there.
Website: Prisoners Literature Project
How to Donate
Any books that are in good condition are encouraged to be donated to the program, even if they aren’t suitable to send directly to the prisoners. Drop the books off at the Bound Together bookstore in Haight Ashbury.
The Prison Literature Project always need paperbacks in good condition, and also hardcovers, in particular modern textbooks in current editions.
The following books are the most requested by prisoners:
- Dictionaries – including ASL sign language and thesauruses.
- ‘How to’ books – construction, gardening etc
- Books on culture – in particular African-American, Latino, and Native American history
- Good quality detective, sci-fi, fantasy fiction and western paperbacks.
The program also has an Amazon wishlist, which you can buy books for them from if you’re feeling super generous.
Why We Love Prisoners Literature Project
The nonprofit’s goal is to send as much free literature to prisoners as possible. By giving those who are incarcerated access to reading materials, they aim to aid the prisoners’ ability to learn and think critically.
The charity has been active in the Bay Area for a while, and they frequently receive letters from prisoners thanking them for their books, which shows the difference they’re making.
San Francisco Book Wagon
Donation Types: Pick up from you, drop off (Mission, arrange a time)
Types of Books Accepted: Children’s books, with an emphasis on children’s Spanish language books
Website: Book Wagon SF
How to Donate
To arrange a time to drop books off in Mission, please email Suzanne: bookwagonsf@gmail.com
The Book Wagon will also pick up books from you. To arrange this, you can email them with your location at the same address.
Why We Love The Book Wagon
In the four years they’ve been active, they’ve donated an incredible 35,000 books to elementary schools in the Mission and Bay neighborhoods. They currently donate 800 books a month to seven elementary schools, and are in need of Spanish language books as well as English kids’ books.
I had the pleasure of speaking to their founder Suzanne, who told me:
“We are helping children build a home library so they have books in the home and reading becomes a regular activity. We believe that children should have choices as to what they want to read, have access to and ownership of those books, and see themselves in the books they choose to read.”
Friends of the San Francisco Public Library
Donation Type: Drop off
Locations:
Book Donation Center: 1630 17th Street (between Carolina and Wisconsin)
Friends Bookstore Fort Mason Center: Building C, Room 165, Fort Mason Center
Hours:
Book Donation Center
Tuesday – Friday: 10am – 4pm
Saturday: 10am – 2pm
Sunday – Monday: Closed
Friends Bookstore Fort Mason Center
7 days a week from 10am – 6pm
Types of Books Accepted: Textbooks, graphic novels, comic books, general adult/children’s books in good condition
Types of Books Not Accepted: Encyclopedias, magazines, children’s books from school libraries i.e. books with stamps in them
Website: Friends of the SF Public Library
How to Donate
The Friends Bookstore only takes smaller donations of 4 boxes or less. The Book Donation Center will be able to take larger donations, but please call ahead if you have any queries: (415) 771-1076. If you have more than 20 of the same book, call (415) 522-8606.
Your donation is tax-deductible, and helps provide support to the San Francisco Library, so this is a great place to donate books in San Francisco.
Access Books
Donation Type: Drop off
Primary Location: 80 Harriet Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Hours: Email them to arrange a drop off
Alternate Location: Greene Middle School Library, 750 N. California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Type of Books Accepted: Elementary school books, graphics novels, bilingual/Spanish books
Website: Access Books
How to Donate
Although we listed their known locations above, things do change, and Access Books specifically request you email them to arrange a drop off date and location. Their email is: books@accessbooksbayarea.org
Why We Love Access Books
They’re a really great option if you have used children’s books, in good condition, to give away. Why? Access Books work solely to fund public school libraries in impoverished areas.
With offices across California, the Bay Area branch is headed up by Amanda Collins, a school librarian who acutely understands the lack of funding given to school libraries in the state. They also have a number of book donation locations in Los Angeles.
Friends of the Palo Alto Library
Donation Type: Drop off
Primary Location: Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto CA 94303
Hours: Monday-Saturday 3-5pm
Type of Books Accepted: Magazines, encyclopedias, Reader’s Digest, maps
Website: Friends of the Palo Alto Library
How to Donate
The Friends are very accommodating and will take most types of book in good condition. Please note that book donations aren’t accepted in the week leading up to a book sale.
There is a limit of six boxes per donation.
This is a great way to contribute to the library’s regular book sales, which provide important funds to keep the Palo Alto Library’s programs running.
And there you go! These options are all great places to donate books in San Francisco – there’s no excuse not to donate now, as hopefully you’ve gained inspiration to donate those books gathering dust.
All of this information is very much appreciated.
Will look through again, sort and bring.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!