If you find your shelves overflowing and you’re looking for places to donate books in Columbus, look no further!
Following on from our guides around the great state of Ohio, such as where to donate books in Cincinnati and Cleveland, we’ve rounded up the best places to donate books in Columbus.
Note: We prioritize organizations that dedicate time and resources to aiding literacy in their local communities.
Reach Out and Read @ Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Donation Type: Drop off
Primary Location: 700 Children’s Dr., Columbus, OH 43205
Other Locations: 7 other locations in Columbus. See full list below.
Type of Books Accepted: Children’s books up to a second grade reading level
Type of Books Not Accepted: Books published pre-1990, coloring books, workbooks, textbooks, political/religious books
Website: Nationwide Children’s
How to Donate
Reach Out and Read have seven book drop off locations in Columbus. You can view them all on our Book Donation Map of America. We recommend reaching out to your local branch to arrange a drop off of your gently used children’s books:
- Clintonville Close to Home Center
- Dublin Close to Home Center
- Lewis Close to Home Center
- Ohio Pediatric Care Alliance
- Ontario Close to Home Center
- Westerville Behavioral Health
- Westerville Close to Home Center
Why We Love Reach Out and Read
Reach Out and Read are a nationwide nonprofit that integrate reading as part of a child’s care and recovery while they are in hospital.
Pediatric clinicians at the above Nationwide Children’s branches are trained by Reach Out and Read to help bring the joy of reading to children, a lot of whom are from low-income backgrounds. This is definitely a noble cause for your donations!
Columbus Metropolitan Library Friends
Donation Type: Drop off
Primary Location: 96 S. Grant Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215
Other Locations: 22 other locations. See our Book Donation Map for your closest one.
Type of Books Not Accepted: Magazines, newspapers, academic journals, law/medical books, encyclopedias, activity books, travel books older than 3 years, textbooks older than 10 years
Website: Columbus Library
How to Donate
If you have a box/boxes of books that you’re able to carry into one of the Metropolitan Library locations unassisted, just drop it off at any time they’re open (check your local site for details.) If you have a larger donation, please call or email ahead of time.
Books in good condition are sold at the Friends’ “Big Book Sales” to raise money for vital library programs.
OSU University Libraries
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: Thompson Library, Room 322, 1858 Neil Avenue Mall, Columbus, OH 43210-1286
Type of Books Accepted: Gently used books will be evaluated for addition to the Libraries collection
Website: OSU Libraries
How to Donate
If you are interested in making a donation, please contact Christen Ireland at ireland.34@osu.edu or 614-247-7790.
Note, this is probably a better idea if you have some interesting books to donate that could be of use to the library’s collection, as opposed to children’s books or old magazines. Nonetheless, you can get in touch with Christen to see if it’s a fit, and arrange a time for donation.