Best Places to Donate Books in DC
If you find your shelves overflowing with titles you no longer need, or if you’re simply clearing out old kids’ books, then these are the best places to donate your gently used books in DC.
Read on to see all the locations, which types of books they do, and don’t accept, and how to donate!
First we have a master list, prioritizing nonprofits dedicated to improving literacy in the community. You can also find more information about where to donate specific types of books further down the page by clicking here:
Turning the Page
Donation Types: Drop off, Pick up from you
Pop-Up Store Location: 1350 I Street NW
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 12-6pm
Other Drop Off Locations: Multiple other sale locations. See their website.
Type of Books Accepted: Books in all languages and ages
Type of Books Not Accepted: Magazines, journals, dictionaries, encyclopedias, textbooks more than 10 years old
Website: Turning the Page
How to Donate
This nonprofit hosts a range of book sales that accept donations, as well as their pop up store address above.
If you have more than 5 boxes full of books, they’ll also collect from you which is super convenient. Fill out the donation pick up form on their site for this.
How Turning the Page Helps
Since their inception in 1998, TTP has distributed more than 125,000 books and worked with over 7,000 families in the area to improve children’s literacy levels.
They connect volunteers with struggling children and families for one-on-one reading time, as well as host events and even get authors on board for some. Any books you donate will be gladly received by their numerous programs.
DC Books to Prisoners
Donation Type: Drop off
Location: Foundry United Methodist Church, 1500 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20036
Hours: Wednesdays 6-8pm in the room in the basement
Type of Books Accepted: Paperback books in Spanish and English, National Geographics post-2000, comic books; check their site for current needs
Website: DC Books to Prisoners
How to Donate
Drop your books off at the Foundry United Methodist Church. Bear in mind that this organization works to get books to incarcerated inmates across the country, therefore only paperback/softback books are accepted.
How DC Books to Prisoners Helps
Just check out the Notes from Prison section on their website to see the impact good quality literature can have on inmates. They are so grateful to receive books, as prison libraries are often understocked.
Free Minds Book Club
Donation Type: Drop off, Mail In
Location: 1816 12th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Type of Books Accepted: Paperback books only, particularly Spanish language books, young adult books, poetry, urban fiction, joke books, cartoons, how-to books, career books, thesauri, dictionaries, SAT & GED books, biographies
Website: Free Minds Book Club
How to Donate
This organization accepts mail donations, and you can also drop off in person at their above address. As they don’t have any info on opening hours, it’s probably best to email them to arrange a time for a book drop off: mail@freemindsbookclub.org
How Free Minds Book Club Helps
This is a program that works with formerly incarcerated youths and adults, introducing them to not only reading but writing, through a number of community workshops and initiatives.
Racial justice is one of the organization’s primary goals, and they also run job training and placement programs to help recently released young people gain important life skills. It’s great to see them using books and reading to do this!
Montgomery County Public Libraries
Donation Type: Drop off, Pick up from you
Current Locations as of late 2025 (see link below for opening hours):
– Aspen Hill (Limit 1 box or bag)
– Chevy Chase
– Connie Morella
– Davis
– Germantown
– Kensington Park (Limit 2 boxes or bags)
– Little Falls
– Long Branch
– Maggie Nightingale
– Marilyn J. Praisner
– Olney (Limit 1 box or bag)
– Potomac
– Quince Orchard (Limit 1 box or bag)
– Rockville Memorial (Limit 1 box or bag)
– Twinbrook (Limit 1 box or bag)
– White Oak
Type of Books Not Accepted: Out of date textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines
Website: Montgomery County MD
How to Donate
Maryland still counts, right!? The Montgomery County Library Friends would be happy to take your gently used books at all of their locations above. See their website for each branch’s opening hours.
The WBFN Book Project
Donation Type: Drop off (up to 8 boxes of books)
Location: 1775 G St NW, Washington, DC 20006
Hours: Wednesday, 10:30am-2:30pm
Other Locations: See below for donations over 8 boxes
Type of Books Accepted: Fiction, nonfiction, textbooks, children’s books, National Geographics and educational magazines, picture books
Type of Books Not Accepted: Foreign language books, trade publications and journals, books on U.S government, history books
Website: WBFN Book Project
How to Donate
For donations that are 8 boxes or more, please get in touch directly with the staff at the World Bank Family Network Book Project. They can coordinate with you about dropping off larger deliveries to their Landiver, MD or Sterling, VA warehouses.
Why We Love the WBFN Book Project
They use their donated books to positively impact change in developing countries. With the help of donors, they select three countries each year to deliver books to.
Previous recipients of their good will have been students and schools in countries such as Pakistan, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, Kenya and Haiti!
Daughters of The American Revolution
Location: 1776 D Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006
Hours: Appointment to be confirmed via submission
Type of Books Accepted: Local/state history books and records, U.S. history books, women’s history books, biographies of historical figures, Native American history books, historic periodicals
Type of Books Not Accepted: Textbooks, children’s books, fiction, poetry, cookbooks
Website: Library Donation Form
How to Donate
The Library is definitely looking for more niche donations, as you can see from what is and isn’t accepted. If you have any interesting historical books, fill out the donation form linked above and they’ll email you details on how to donate.
The Smithsonian Libraries and Archives
Donation Type: Drop off (appointment, rare books only)
Location: 10th St. and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington DC, 20560
Type of Books Accepted: Rare and antiquated books for their collection
Website: The Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (SLA)
How to Donate
Well, it’s the Smithsonian! So, these types of donations are for super rare and antiquated books. If you have something that could be of historical value to the museum library, get in touch with them using the link above!
The Lantern
Donation Types: Drop off, trade/exchange
Location: 3241 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
Type of Books Accepted: Graphic novels, manga etc.
Website: The Lantern
How to Donate
The Lantern is a famous used bookstore that’s been included because it’s one of the few places that will accept graphic novels/comics/manga.
Best Places to Donate Children’s Books in DC
Turning the Page
Donation Types: Drop off, Pick up from you
Pop-Up Store Location: 1350 I Street NW
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 12-6pm
Other Drop Off Locations: Multiple other sale locations. See their website.
Website: Turning the Page
Montgomery County Public Libraries
Donation Type: Drop off, Pick up from you, Drop off in book bin, Trade/exchange
12 Locations (see link below for opening hours):
Type of Books Not Accepted: Out of date textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines
Website: Montgomery County MD
Given their dedication to improving literacy in the community, you can’t go wrong by selecting Turning The Page for children’s book donations. The Montgomery Co. Library system is also a great place for these types of book.
Where to Donate Encyclopedias and Dictionaries in DC
Free Minds Book Club
Donation Type: Drop off, Mail In
Location: 1816 12th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Website: Free Minds Book Club
Turning the Page
Donation Types: Drop off, Pick up from you
Pop-Up Store Location: 1350 I Street NW
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 12-6pm
Other Drop Off Locations: Multiple other sale locations. See their website.
Website: Turning the Page
The WBFN Book Project
Donation Type: Drop off (up to 8 boxes of books)
Location: 1775 G St NW, Washington, DC 20006
Hours: Wednesday, 10:30am-2:30pm
Website: WBFN Book Project
Places to Donate Textbooks in DC
Textbooks are always a tricky one, but the WBFN Book Project is happy to accept textbooks because they work with foreign school systems in developing countries who appreciate used textbooks, as long as they’re in good condition. You can see their listing and website information above.