Have you reached that chapter in your life where you’re looking to give away some of your used books?
Well, if you’re in the Toronto area, we’ve got you covered. Here, we run through where to donate books in Toronto, covering a variety of charitable organizations, libraries, and used bookstores for all different types of book donations.
Toronto Public Library Foundation
Donation Type: Drop off
Location 1: BookEnds North – North York Central Library, Concourse Level, 5120 Yonge Street
Hours: Wed-Sat 10am-4pm; Friday 10am-6pm
Location 2: BookEnds South, Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street
Hours: Wed-Fri 12-6pm; Saturday 12-5pm
Type of Books Accepted: English and French paperbacks and hardcovers
Type of Books Not Accepted: Magazines, computer books, encyclopedias, textbooks
Website: Toronto Public Library Foundation
How to Donate
Both Yonge Street branches of the Library accept donations during the above hours. Please note that no other Toronto Public Library locations are currently taking donations.
How Toronto Public Library Helps
Donated books are sold at the BOOKEnds Bookstore, directly impacting library programs with their profits.
The Children’s Book Bank
Donation Type: Drop off
Warehouse Location: 344 Bleecker St.
Hours: Keep an eye on their website and socials for when they accept donations
Type of Books Accepted: Baby books, board books, children’s books, graphic novels/manga, young adult fiction
Type of Books Not Accepted: Textbooks, encyclopedias, self-published books
Website: The Children’s Book Bank
How to Donate
This nonprofit has very specific days that they can accept donations on, but there will usually be a day every month where they can take drop offs at the shipping bay by their warehouse on 344 Bleecker St.
So, be sure to check their social media pages like Instagram, and store up your books in some sturdy boxes for the next donation day!
How The Children’s Book Bank Helps
Very simply, The Children’s Book Bank provides free books to all children ages 0-18 in four Toronto locations.
On top of this, their locations can be hired out for free by teachers, community leaders and summer camps for interactive ‘storytime’ programs. This is an organization that really cares about making reading accessible to everyone in the Toronto community, and their work can be supported by donating some lovely used children’s books!
Second Bind
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: 1111 Flint Rd Unit 33, North York, ON M3J
Hours: Monday-Friday 8.30am-4.30pm
Type of Books Accepted: Any books in good condition
Website: Second Bind
How to Donate
Simply bring your books to Second Bind’s physical location at the above address in North York.
Second Bind is committed to helping keep items out of landfills. They do donate books they receive to various organizations, as well as sustainably recycling them.
Textbooks For Change
Donation Types: Drop off in book bin, Pick up from you
Locations: 19 locations in central Toronto. See their map online for a full list
Hours: Most book bins should be open 24/7
Type of Books Accepted: Textbooks from university and high school level published in the last 15 years
Website: Textbooks for Change
How to Donate
Use the website’s great map to locate a convenient spot to drop your textbooks off.
Textbooks for Change also state that they can pick books up from you, but there isn’t any further information, so we recommend reaching out to them for more guidance here. As an FYI, you’d probably need a lot of textbooks to warrant a pick up!
How Textbooks for Change Helps
This is a Canada-wide operation that collects used textbooks from students and donates upwards of 50% of them to developing countries, mostly in Africa. They have some great testimonials from students in countries like Kenya attesting to the help they got, as textbooks are often unaffordable or even inaccessible to students there.
Textbooks are a notoriously tough type of book to donate readily, so the sheer number of book bins set up by Textbooks for Change (mostly at universities) in Canada provides a great option for any students looking to contribute their old books to a good cause.
The Pegasus Shoppe
Donation Type: Drop off (appointment)
[Primary] Location: 931 Kingston Rd., Toronto, ON M4E 1S6
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9.30am-5.30pm; Sunday 11am-4pm
Type of Books Accepted: Nonfiction and fiction books, magazines in good condition
Website: Pegasus Toronto
How to Donate
Arrange a time to drop your books off by emailing thepegasusshoppe@pegasustoronto.ca, or calling 416-913-2544
How Pegasus Helps
The Pegasus Community Project provides an outlet for those with special needs by helping them participate in meaningful activities. The Pegasus Shoppe is the thrift store branch of this nonprofit that raises vital money for their community-driven programs.
Founder Marie Perotta received the Citizen of the Year Award in Beaches/East York back in 2004, and the program continues to help those in need today.
A Mention for First Book Canada
First Book Canada does not accept used books, but is a noble literacy nonprofit that can benefit from fundraising, particularly if your business or school is looking to host a fundraiser. You can check them out at First Book Canada.
There you have it! A thorough “readthrough” of all the best places to donate a variety of different kinds of books in the Toronto area.
The only hard part now will be choosing where you go. Whatever you choose, the most important thing is keeping your literature local!