If you’ve recently done some spring cleaning and have some used books you want to donate to a local Lansing organization or bookstore, you’re in luck because we’ve listed everywhere you can donate here!
From charities working to distribute books to those who need them most, to those supporting veterans, and of course local libraries, Lansing is not short of places that will take your books. So, let’s run through them.
Note: We prioritize organizations that dedicate time and resources to aiding literacy in their local communities.
The Reading People
Donation Type: Drop off, Drop off in book bin
Primary Location: Capital Area Literacy Coalition: 1028 E Saginaw St, Lansing, MI 48906
Hours: Mon-Thu 9am-5pm
Other Locations: Schuler Book Store: 1982 West Grand River, Okemos, MI 48864; Erickson Hall @ MSU Campus
Type of Books Not Accepted: Religious books, political books, textbooks/medical books
Donation Receipt: Yes
Website: The Reading People
How to Donate
You can drop your books off at the Reading People’s head office (their primary location above) or in their book bins at the Schuler Book Store or Erickson Hall. They ask you to call ahead if you have more than two boxes to donate.
Why We Love The Reading People
The Reading People is part of the Capital Area Literacy Coalition, who work to give both children and adults in Lansing a chance to improve their literacy skills through reading. They host free book giveaway events, and also provide teachers, tutors, and students with chances to increase their own libraries via their Book Building initiative.
East Lansing Public Library
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: 950 Abbot Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823
Types of Books Accepted: Any hardcover or paperback books
Type of Books Not Accepted: National Geographics
Donation Receipt: Yes
Website: ELPL Friends
How to Donate
Bring your books to the East Lansing Public Library. The friends use donations to run “tailgates” where all the proceeds go to funding ELPL programs.
The Bookend
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: 1590 Franklin Street, Haslett, MI 48840
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-8; Sat 10-7; Sun 12-5
Type of Books Not Accepted: Textbooks, encyclopedias, corporate books, travel/computer books over 2 years old
Donation Receipt: Yes
Website: CADL Haslett Branch
How to Donate
The first of the Capital Area District Library bookstores we’ll feature, The Bookend is the popular friends of the library bookshop located in the Haslett branch. Just bring your books there during opening hours and they’ll gladly take them off your hands.
The Book Burrow
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: 401 S Capitol Ave, Lansing, MI 48933
Hours: Thu 11-2 & 4-7; Fri 11-2; Sat 11-4
Type of Books Not Accepted: Textbooks, encyclopedias, corporate books, travel/computer books over 2 years old
Donation Receipt: Yes
Website: CADL Downtown Lansing
How to Donate
This is the downtown bookstore of the Capital Area District Library friends. Again, simply drop your books off at the above location during their opening hours.
Volunteers of America
Donation Type: Drop off, Pick up from you
Primary Location: 5411 S Cedar St, Lansing, MI 48911
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-6pm
Other Locations: Schuler Book Store: 1982 West Grand River, Okemos, MI 48864; Erickson Hall @ MSU Campus
Donation Receipt: Yes
Website: VOAMI
How to Donate
Volunteers of America helps veterans in Michigan by providing food, shelter, and affordable housing among other things. There aren’t any hard and fast book donation guidelines on their site, so you can assume they would take most forms of books, but consider any encyclopedias or textbooks older than a few years probably won’t be much good.
Did you know… Lansing isn’t the only college town to be featured in our Michigan guides. You can find all the places to donate books in Ann Arbor too!
MSU Surplus Store
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: 468 Green Way, East Lansing, MI 48824
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-3.30pm
Types of Books Accepted: Any hardcover or paperback books
Donation Receipt: No
Website: MSU Surplus Store
How to Donate
If you think you might be sitting on any interesting books with potential resale value, the MSU Surplus Store is going to be your best bet. Their book sales help support MSU recycling programs, working to keep Lansing green.
Curious Books
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: 307 E Grand River Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823
Hours: Mon-Sat 10-7; Sun 12-5
Type of Books Accepted: See below
Type of Books Not Accepted: Incomplete sets, book club editions, encyclopedias, Reader’s Digests, textbooks
Donation Receipt: No
Website: Curious Books
How to Donate
Are you “curious” to find out if your books are worth anything? Well, Curious Books are a local bookshop keen to buy books if you feel you have something worthwhile. What’s worthwhile to them? Plenty, actually. For a full list check out their website on the above link, but they’re particularly interested in any Michigan history, or titles by Michigan authors.
There you have it! Pleasingly, there are a wide variety of organizations in Lansing to donate your old books to, the only hard part is going to choose which cause to give them to!