You’ve turned to the right page if you want to donate books in Manchester!
Here, you’ll find everything you need to locate a suitable place to donate, from opening hours, locations, and types of books each organisation accepts. Read on to find the most convenient location and cause for you.
Books Forever
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: Wood Street Mission, 26 Wood Street, Manchester, M3 3EF
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am-4.30pm
Type of Books Accepted: Fiction and nonfiction books for children ages 0-16.
Website: Wood Street Mission
How to Donate
Donors are able to pull up directly outside the building for book drop offs. Someone will be on hand during the hours above to collect your books.
Why We Love Books Forever
Books Forever is the literacy-based initiative of Wood Street Mission, a local children’s charity. They support families from low income backgrounds and books are a huge part of their work.
Their “Book Roadshow” takes books around the city to be handed out to children at school. In 2023, over 20,000 children received their own book through this program as well as the charity’s ongoing “Family Basics” project. It’s great to see a charity that understands how books can help children grow and learn!
Recycle for Greater Manchester
Donation Type: Drop off in book bin
Manchester Locations:
– Sandfold Lane, Manchester, M19 3BJ
– Reliance Street, Manchester, M40 3EZ
Other Locations: See all in Greater Manchester here
Hours: 8am-8pm, 7 days a week
Type of Books Accepted: Any books in decent condition
Website: Book Recycling Guide
How to Donate
Recycle for Greater Manchester has 18 drop off locations around the city in places like Bolton and Oldham, including the two central ones above.
Your book donations will be used to help stock the organisation’s “Renew” shops, with proceeds being put back into their recycling programs for the city.
The Book Nook (The Great Northern)
Donation Type: Drop off in book bin
Location: Great Northern Warehouse, 235 Deansgate
Hours: 8am-3pm, 7 days a week
Type of Books Accepted: Books for kids or adults in decent condition
Website: The Great Northern
How to Donate
This is a cool community initiative to give shoppers, and anyone really, a quiet place where they can come and read and relax at The Great Northern.
There is a box outside the library to drop your gently used books off in. For fear of overflowing the box, and given the smaller size of this location, I’d suggest only bringing a handful of books here at any one drop off.
Oxfam Emporium
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: 8-10 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JQ
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday 12-5pm
Type of Books Accepted: Books for kids or adults in decent condition
Type of Books Accepted: Generally no textbooks, old magazines, Reader’s Digests
Website: Oxfam Emporium
How to Donate
Of course, Oxfam is a household name for donations and the Emporium, while not a book-specific store, does have thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles available for all ages. You can’t go wrong in supporting your local Oxfam branch and they’re generally accepting of most types of book; simply drop your books off here during opening hours.
Other Great Book Donation Guides
There are some really deserving causes here in Manchester that would love your gently used books, as well as some cool places that encourage reading for people of all ages.
I certainly hope this guide has helped inform your decision, so that you can find a suitable place near you. Happy donating!