Have your used books reached that stage where they’d be better off taking flight to a new home? Well, if you’re looking to donate books in Dayton we’ve got you covered.
This town boasts a number of nonprofits that are specifically dedicated to redistributing books in the Dayton community, as well as more general children’s nonprofits. So, the only hard part will be deciding where you’ll donate!
Dayton Book Fair
Donation Types: Pick up from you, Drop off, Drop off in book bin
Headquarters: 2181 Embury Park Rd, Dayton, OH 45414
Hours: 10am-4pm Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat; book drop open 24/7
Type of Books Accepted: Almost everything
Type of Books Not Accepted: National Geographics, encyclopedias
Website: Dayton Book Fair
How to Donate
The Dayton Book Fair provide an excellent pick up service where they’ll come and collect your books, with no minimum requirements. Call them to arrange a pick up.
You can also bring boxes full of books to their headquarters on Embury Park Rd during their office hours above. If you have just a few, loose books you want to donate, their book bin is open 24 hours at the same location.
Why We Love the Dayton Book Fair
A truly local nonprofit, the Dayton Book Fair selects three deserving nonprofits per year to gift all their donated books to. They sell your donated books at their legendary book fair which takes place the second week of November, and their logo is pretty darn cool, too!
The Book Fair gives away roughly 50,000 books per year via stocking a book truck, sending a pallet of books to Liberia, donating to Reading is Fundamental, and through Rabbit Hole Books in downtown Dayton.
Project Read
Donation Type: Drop off in book bin
Locations: Numerous – see website below
Hours: 24/7, depending on location
Type of Books Accepted: Children’s books
Website: Project Read
How to Donate
Project Read have no fewer than 12 book bins around the Dayton metro area. Some are indoors at businesses, and some are outdoors therefore available 24/7 – just check their web page above for details.
You can also view all Project Read book bin locations on our own Book Donation Map of America. Just select “Dayton” under the city finder.
Why We Love Project Read
Project Reed have been donating books to churches, schools, and other nonprofits in Dayton for over 30 years.
Their motto is “building literacy through collaboration” and I absolutely love that tagline. They back it up too: with the help of their volunteers they donated 16,780 books in 2020 alone.
Psst! If you find yourself traveling to Cincy often, you’ll definitely want to check out where you can donate books in Cincinatti.
Corner Cupboard Charities of Greater Dayton
Donation Type: Drop off
Primary Location: 504 Xenia Ave, Dayton, OH 45410
Hours: 11.30am-3.30pm Tues-Sat
Type of Books Accepted: All
Website: Facebook Page
How to Donate
This local thrift store isn’t fussy about what type of books they want, and stock used books in their store ranging from how-to’s to periodicals! Drop your books off in-store during their opening hours.
For Love of Children (Book Nook)
Donation Type: Drop off
Primary Location: 131 N Ludlow St, Talbott Tower, Dayton, OH 45402
Hours: Contact to arrange a time
Type of Books Accepted: Children’s books
Website: FLOC Dayton Book Nook
How to Donate
It’s not abundantly clear how to donate on their website, though this nonprofit does specifically ask for books for their Book Nook, so we recommend reaching out to them to arrange a time.
Why We Love the Book Nook
This initiative is relatively young, just five years in the making, but The Book Nook aims to increase literacy standards among some of the less fortunate children in the community. They’ve donated over 13,000 books so far, distributing them directly to schools and also supporting the Montgomery County Children’s Services.
Dollar Book Swap
Donation Type: Trade/exchange
Location: 1723 Webster St, Dayton, OH 45404
Hours: 10am-3pm Mon-Thu; 10am-6pm Fri-Sat
Type of Books Accepted: Anything worth buying
Website: Facebook Page
How to Donate
The Dollar Book Swap is a local bookstore where all books are priced at just $1.25. You can trade in used books for store credit, which is a nice option if you’re looking to replenish your library after the clear out.