They say everything is bigger in Texas, but what if you’re looking to make your book collection a little smaller? Look no further!
Here’s a run through of all the fantastic local organizations who will be only too glad to take your used books in Austin.
BookSpring
Donation Type: Drop off in book bin
Location: 2006 Greenbrook Parkway, Austin TX 78723
Hours: 24 hour book drop
Type of Books Accepted: Children’s books in good condition
Website: BookSpring
How to Donate
They take books for all ages, including board books and picture books.
The book drop address above is available 24/7 but they do request that you fill their donation form in first, so that your donations aren’t left out in the elements for too long.
Why We Love BookSpring
The perfect place for donating children’s books, BookSpring are an organization focused on increasing children’s literacy skills.
Currently dedicated to providing books to over 80,000 children living in poverty within the region, they aim to increase home libraries, and the love of reading for all children. Firmly believing that all children have the right to books, your donations will be distributed to those in need.
BookSpring run several free fun story time events throughout the year, and their dedication to improving children’s literacy in Austin is remarkable!
Inside Books Project
Donation Type: Drop off, drop off in book bin
Primary Location: 3106 East 14 1/2 Street, Austin TX 78702
Book Bin Location: Bouldin Creek Café; 1900 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
Hours: Tues, Fri & Sat 10am-5pm. Wed & Thurs 12pm-7pm
Type of Books Accepted: Paperbacks, and they are in need of how to/self-help manuals, puzzle books, history books, Spanish books in particular (see their site for details)
Type of Books Not Accepted: Blank journals, encyclopedias, hardcover books, spiral bound books, martial arts books, books with maps of Texas
Website: Inside Books Project
How to Donate
If you have gently used books to donate, they have two handy locations for you to drop them off. The one on East 14 1/2 Street is a small drop box on the side of the building, while the other is located within Bouldin Creek Café – so you can grab a coffee as you contribute to this worthy cause.
They do have a list of the types of books they cannot accept, most of which is common sense (e.g. no books which contain nudity, or books which are heavy or spiral bound for security reasons), but for the full list visit their website where there is also a list of books they are in greatest need of.
Why We Love Inside Books Project
The only books-to-prisoners program in Texas, Inside Books Project looks to help rehabilitate prisoners through literature. They send over 35,000 books to prisoners in Texas every year, all of which have been repurposed through public donations.
Recycled Reads
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: 5335 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX, 78756
Hours: Thursdays 12-7:30pm, Fri-Sun 12-5:30pm
Type of Books Accepted: Anything except magazines!
Website: Recycled Reads
How to Donate
A part of the Austin Public Library, Recycled Reads uses all profits from book sales to keep the public service going. As well as your donated books, they also take and sell all of Austin Public Library’s discarded material, such as slightly outdated editions and duplicate copies of books they already have.
As long as your donations are in good condition there’s no text they don’t accept, making this a perfect place to recycle those unwanted and unused textbooks. No donation is deemed too big, so if you’re having a massive clear out, this is definitely the place to go.
They can provide you with a tax receipt, too.
Austin Public Library – District Branches
Donation Type: Drop off
Locations: View all of them on our book donation map of America, just select “Austin” on the drop down menu!
Type of Books Accepted: Anything except magazines!
How to Donate
The district branches of the Austin Public Library will also accept donations to benefit the Recycled Reads program. As mentioned above, it’s best to check out our book donation map in order to find a location near you (we have all of them on there!)
Where To Donate Books in Austin: The Sparknotes
- Book Spring
- Inside Books Project
- Recycled Reads
- Austin Public Library (district branches)
So, there you have it! A full list of great causes in most need of your unwanted books. We’ve made sure to include options for different types of books you may wish to donate, so make sure you choose the organization which fits your style best.
Post image credit: @shelbysorrel