You’re here because you have a few piles of books stacking up and want to do something nice by donating them locally? You’re in luck! Kalamazoo is not short of places to donate books, and these organizations are all run by, and for, locals.
Note: Most larger charity/thrift stores will take book donations. At Local Book Donations, we prioritize organizations that dedicate time and resources to aiding literacy in their local communities.
Read and Write Kalamazoo
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: 802 S Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Hours: Mon-Tues 9am-5pm; Fri 9am-6pm; Sat 10am-2pm
Type of Books Accepted: Check before donating
Type of Books Not Accepted: National Geographics!
Website: RAWK
How to Donate
Drop your books off at their location on S Westnedge during opening hours. Though their website doesn’t list which books they’re in need of, Read and Write host regular reading events and will gladly take books off your hands, just as long as they aren’t National Geographics as they have way too many of those already!
Why We Love RAWK
They partner with public schools in the Kalamazoo area to promote reading and creative writing. This is delivered through their support for teachers in schools, as well as their many events and after school sessions they host at their own location.
Founders Anne and Emily had the vision to provide a welcoming space for the youth of Kalamazoo to read and write when they founded RAWK in 2012, and now they are a pioneering force for good in the community, with programs like Books for Keeps and the RAWK readers’ room helping children to engage in reading and writing activities.
Kalamazoo Public Library Friends Bookstore
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: 315 S. Rose St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Hours: Wed 12-6pm; Thu-Sat 10am-4pm
Type of Books Accepted: Current and classic fiction, nonfiction and guides that aren’t outdated
Type of Books Not Accepted: Encyclopedias older than 10 years, Readers Digests, magazines, textbooks
Website: KPL Friends
How to Donate
The KPL friends request that you call them to arrange a time to drop your books off. When you pull up in the parking lot, they’ll wheel a box out to you for you to put your books into. Neat!
The KPL Friends Bookstore sells second hand books and all profits go to support library programs, which is a great cause.
Nuway Thrift Store
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: 211 East Cork Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Hours: Tue-Fri 10am-4pm; Sat 10am=2pm
Type of Books Not Accepted: Textbooks
Website: Nuway Facebook Page
How to Donate
This local thrift store was recently given a new lease of life, and they would be thrilled to receive any sort of books, bar textbooks, dropped off during the above hours. Locals love shopping here, and Nuway is undoubtedly a great local organization worth supporting.
Kazoo Books
Donation Type: Trade-in (store credit)
Location: 2413 Parkview Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm
Type of Books Not Accepted: Textbooks
Website: Kazoo Books
How to Donate
If you feel you’re sitting on a rare title, Kazoo Books can determine the value of first editions, classics, etcetera, so bring your books to trade in for a store credit at this charming local bookseller.
Well, we knew there were plenty of places to donate books in Ann Arbor and Detroit, but who’d have thought one of Michigan’s smaller cities would have so many places to give a home to your used books? Although it’s only the twentieth most populated of Michigan’s cities, Kalamazoo sure has plenty of options when it comes to book donations, which is exactly why we chose to run this feature on the town.
So, you now have no excuse to send your books on their way and support one of these great local organizations in your hometown!