Have you reached the chapter of your life where you’re looking to give away your used books? Well, if you’re in the Champaign-Urbana region, you’re in luck, because there are a ton of organizations that would be grateful to take them.
At Local Book Donations, we encourage the donation of books locally, as many local organizations work to promote literacy in the local community. That’s no different in Champaign, so read on to find the best places to donate.
Urbana Champaign Books to Prisoners
Donation Type: Drop off in book bin, Mail
Primary Location: Urbana Champaign Independent Media Center, 202 S. Broadway Ave. Urbana, IL 61801
Other Locations: Common Ground Food Co-Op, Lincoln Square Mall (across from art co-op), Parkland College (across from library, first floor)
Type of Books Not Accepted: Magazines, Cliff Notes, Readers Digest books, pamphlets, articles, academic journals, old textbooks
Website: Books2Prisoners
How to Donate
Drop off your books in any of the book bins at the above locations. As these are indoor book bins, bear in mind they will not be open to public access 24/7.
If you want to mail your books in, the UC Books to Prisoners mailing address is:
UC Books to Prisoners
Book Donation Processing
PO Box 515
Urbana IL 61803
The books they value the most are things like dictionaries, history books, books on addiction and recovery, and guides to learning a trade. Essentially, practical books that can be of use to prisoners who want to rehabilitate and learn. For a full list, check out the UC Books to Prisoners website.
Why We Love UC Books to Prisoners
Their mission is incredibly awesome. They provide free books to incarcerated adults throughout the state of Illinois. The charity is volunteer-run and often host book sales at the Urbana-Champaign Media Center.
Orphans Treasure Box Bookstore
Donation Type: Drop off in book bin
Location: 826 Pioneer St, Champaign, IL 61822
Hours: 24/7
Website: Orphans Treasure Box
How to Donate
The shed behind the Orphans Treasure Box building is the home of their book bin, which can accept donations any time!
Why We Love Orphans Treasure Box
By donating to them, you’ll be directly helping their cause and mission which is to empower women via literacy programs, prison libraries, food banks, and more. This is a really great cause to consider when donating your books in Champaign.
Books from Brek
Donation Type: Drop off (arranged delivery)
Type of Books Accepted: Children’s Books
Website: Books from Brek
How to Donate
Books from Brek ask you to email them to make arrangements for dropping off your books: booksfrombrek@gmail.com
Why We Love Books from Brek
Named after the local Brek Park, they’re a nonprofit that believes in getting books into the homes of families who can’t afford them.
They work to collect books, fund local reading initiatives, and also send books to Crisis Nursery, an organization that works with in-need children 24/7 in Champaign.
Champaign Public Library FriendShop Bookstore
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: 200 W. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820
Hours: Wed-Sat 12-3
Type of Books Not Accepted: Reader’s Digests, encyclopedias, old textbooks, magazines
Website: FriendShop Bookstore
How to Donate
Visit the FriendShop Bookstore on the lower level of the main library to drop off your gently used books.
Why We Love Champaign Public Library
The Public Library uses funds from sold books in their bookstore to run events at the library, and judging by their most recent schedule, they have a lot of free fun stuff to do there!
The Urbana Free Library
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: 210 West Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801
Hours: Mon-Thu 9-9; Fri-Sat 9-6; Sun 1-5
Website: The Urbana Free Library
It’s not super clear exactly how to donate, or what books they are in need of, so it may be best to call ahead if you have large donations you want to give. The free library is a wonderful resource for Urbana residents.