If you’ve had a good clear out of those bookshelves and you’re now looking to donate books in Cincinnati, look no further. We’ve done all the legwork and have put together a list of the best places to donate books in the Queen City.
All you have to do is find your most convenient location, and soon your bookshelves will be de-cluttered so you’ll have plenty more room to fill them up again!
Cincy Library Friends
Donation Type: Drop off, Drop off in book bin
Warehouse Location: 8456 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45216
Hours: Wednesdays, 10am-2pm
Other Locations: Book bins at any local library branch
Type of Books Accepted: Mostly any book in good condition
Website: Cincy Library Friends
How to Donate
There are numerous locations of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library where you can drop your books off in designated book bins by checkout locations.
They also accept donations at their Downtown warehouse at the address given above.
The library friends are a great option as they take most any kind of book. Donated books must be in good condition, meaning damaged or marked books should be donated or recycled elsewhere.
The sale of your donated books will help fund the library’s multiple branches and its numerous projects to make literacy accessible to all.
Adopt a Book
Donation Type: Host a book drive
Type of Books Not Accepted: Magazines, encyclopedias, manuals, coloring/activity books half-done
Website: Adopt a Book
How to Donate
Technically not a place you can drop your books off, Adopt a Book is a scheme which encourages you to hold your own book drive and collect children’s books which are then donated to literacy projects throughout Cincinnati and northern Kentucky.
Perfect for businesses or even Brownie/Scout troops, you can learn more about how to organize your book drive here, set your own time and place, and give your children’s books a new lease of life. Once your drive is finished you can contact them to schedule the delivery of your books directly to Adopt a Book to be distributed to those in need.
Why We Love Adopt a Book
Starting in 2011, twins Hannah and Alex Laman founded this organization when they were only eight years old! They wanted to share their love of books with others and, through that, help others who were not so fortunate as themselves.
They do request that only like-new or gently used books are donated so that they can be distributed to where they’re needed most. This fantastic organization has redistributed over 180,000 books since it was first founded, and has also been awarded the 2020 State Literacy Award by the Library of Congress – which is an impressive feat.
Habitat for Humanity Re:Store
Donation Type: Drop off, Pick up from you
Location: 4910 Para Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45237
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5; Sat 9-4
Type of Books Not Accepted: Textbooks
Website: Habitat Cincinnati
How to Donate
Though Habitat is not a book-centric nonprofit, they’re worth including here as they offer an amazing free pick up service for your items. So you can either drop off during their business hours, or schedule a pick up time by calling: 513-721-4483
With places which use your donations for such worthy causes, you can donate your books knowing they’ll be used to make the world a better place. What’s more, now you have more space on your bookshelves you can buy lots more lovely books to fill it again.