If you’ve reached that chapter in your life where you’re looking to give away your used books, this is where you need to be!
Here you’ll find all the charitable organizations accepting book donations in Calgary. We provide information about all the organizations, such as what types of books they accept, how to donate, and when.
Calgary Reads Big Book Sale
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: The Calgary Curling Club, 720 3rd Street NW
Hours: Generally a couple of weeks at the end of April/early May. Check their website for this year’s dates.
Other Locations: “Stuff a Truck” mobile locations can be checked on their website, running at the same time of year as the regular donation spot.
Type of Books Accepted: Bestsellers, nonfiction, kids’ books, cookbooks, music books, books in foreign languages
Type of Books Not Accepted: Magazines, National Geographic, religious texts, textbooks, dictionaries, Reader’s Digest, Time/Life sets, Harlequin, Avon or Signet romances
Website: Big Book Sale
How to Donate
The Big Book Sale opens its doors for donations for a couple of weeks, usually in April and May. Please check their website linked above for this year’s exact dates.
If you have a large collection of tens of boxes or more, please contact them on their website to arrange a time to donate.
Why We Love the Big Book Sale
The Big Book Sale is put on by government organization Calgary Reads, and works with multiple nonprofits in Calgary to get books in the hands of kids who need them, such as YW Calgary and Big Brothers and Sisters of Calgary.
Children’s books will be used in programs like their “one on one reading”, where volunteers actually sit down with children and encourage them to read. This is a great cause that champions local literacy.
Books Between Friends
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: 14, 3434 – 34 Avenue NE, Calgary, AB
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-3pm
Type of Books Accepted: Most books in good condition
Type of Books Not Accepted: Cookbooks, foreign language, encyclopedias, coffee table books, textbooks, magazines, Reader’s Digest
Website: Books Between Friends
How to Donate
Just drop your books off at their warehouse address during the opening hours listed above, at door #14 at the back of the building. They request books are presented in boxes, bags, or totes.
Why We Love Books Between Friends
Books Between Friends was founded by native Calgarian Lousie Nesterenko in 2004, and uses the funds gathered from its used book sale to support countless charities in the city.
Between Friends, an organization that offers social activities for people with disabilities, is one of the primary recipients of the proceeds, but the nonprofit gives to anyone who wants to come along and man the book sale on any given weekend.
Reset Calgary
Donation Type: Drop off, drop off in book bin (24/7)
Primary Location: 1235 26th Ave SE, Calgary, AB
Hours: 10am-4pm for assisted dropoff, book bin is 24/7
Type of Books Accepted: Almost all books
Type of Books Not Accepted: Textbooks and encyclopedias
Website: Reset Calgary
How to Donate
Much like the Big Book Sale, this is a spring-time event that happens once a year. Please check their website above to see the dates for the current year (it will usually be April.)
There will be an after hours “kiosk” or book bin outside of the Book Sale Tent doors for 24/7 drop offs.
Why We Love The Reset Society
This charity supports women who have been victims of sexual exploitation, offering them supportive housing and one-on-one counseling in their healing process.
You don’t need me to tell you this kind of charity is extremely valuable, and donating books here can help fund their programs.
Women In Need Society
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: 137 – 7007 54th St SE (Bay 26), Calgary AB T2C 3C2
Hours: 8am-4pm every day
Type of Books Accepted: Not specified; assume any book in good condition
Type of Books Not Accepted: Assume things like textbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias and magazines won’t be taken
Website: WINS
How to Donate
Bring your books to the WINS donation center during opening hours.
This is another charity that helps young women in the community, and their donation center serves as a second-hand shop to raise funds for the important work they do.
Please note that we feature charities and don’t include any bookstores or places where you can trade or swap books; this is purely a list of where to donate books in Calgary out the goodness of your heart, and I hope you’ve found a charitable cause after reading through this!