Just about everyone has a collection of books they haven’t read in years. While some people find this comforting, it can also be a bit of a burden to have books take up space in your house. Instead, they could be loved and appreciated by someone who hasn’t read them yet.
If you’re wondering where to donate books in Charlotte, look no further. To help you find a new home for your books, we’ve compiled a list of places to donate books in Charlotte, ranging from charities to used bookstores.
1. Julia’s Cafe and Books
This combination café and used bookstore takes donations and welcomes book drives. It’s a subsidiary of Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte, so you know your donation will go toward improving the well-being of people within your community. It’s a great place to donate books in Charlotte.
It also has a bit of local history. The “Julia” in “Julia’s Café” is the founder Julia Maulden, one of Charlotte’s pioneering public servants. She was passionate about community service and was involved in founding Charlotte’s Habitat for Humanity chapter.
As a bonus, this spot also offers free wifi, loft seating, and sells local and organic coffee and food. So after you drop off your used books, you’ll probably want to stop for a while and appreciate the neighborhood spot.
2. Promising Pages
If the books you’d like to donate are mainly children’s books, you may want to start with Promising Pages. They accept children’s books in like-new and gently-used condition from birth to high school. Their highest need is for books appropriate for pre-K through 5th graders.
This nonprofit organization collects new and donated books to distribute to students and organizations to help with literacy. They provide a free resource to under-resourced members of the community. Because of this mission, they are constrained in what they can accept. They won’t take damaged books, school textbooks, books for adults, or encyclopedias.
If you have a large collection (200 books or more), contact them to coordinate a drop-off time so they’ll be prepared to accept your donation. If you have fewer than 200 books, they have drop-off locations all around Charlotte, which you can find on their website.
3. The Book Rack
Rather than take out-and-out donations, this independent bookstore trades used books for store credit. While this might not work for you if you have a large collection you’re just looking to get off your hands, if you’re an avid reader looking for a way to fund your used book-buying hobby, The Book Rack is a great place to start.
Keep in mind they can only take books that are in good condition, can be resold, and that they don’t already have a surplus of. Because of this, we recommend starting at The Book Rack and taking any extras to another donation center.
4. Book Buyers
This small community bookstore purchases used books for resale. Say hi to the owners’ cats, who like to hang out in the store, while you wait for an appraisal on your used books at this local small business.
5. Goodwill – South Boulevard
Goodwill has a longstanding reputation for reputability and for taking almost any donation, including used books. The proceeds from your donation will be used to fund employment training, job placement services, financial literacy education, and more for people in the Charlotte community.
6. Textbook Brokers
Just about anyone who’s ever taken a college class knows what it’s like to find yourself with a stack of textbooks you were required to buy for class and now have no use for. If you’re still lugging around your old textbooks, that’s where Textbook Brokers comes in.
Textbook Brokers buys back textbooks, freeing up your closet space and giving those books new life in the hands of a student.
Make sure any textbooks you bring to Textbook Brokers are in good condition. They can have signs of wear and tear and some notes and highlighting. But all pages should be intact and the cover and spine should still be in good condition. If the textbook originally came with any additional materials like a CD or study guide, those should also be included and in good condition as well. They should be in good enough condition for a new student to use for their studies.
7. Salvation Army Family Store & Donation Center
A trusted donation center, Salvation offers pickups and drop-offs, making it a great option whether you have just a handful of books or a whole collection to get rid of. Salvation Army is known for taking just about everything, so you can pass on your entire home library in one stop, and they’ll even give you a donation receipt for tax purposes.
Your donation will be sold in the Salvation Army store to fund Adult Rehabilitation Centers, which provide services for people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.
8. Goodwill – University
This is the same Goodwill you know and trust, in a convenient location near UNC Charlotte campus.
Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore accepts book donations (and a wide variety of other items). You can drop off your books at one of their seven drop-off locations around Charlotte, or you can schedule a free pickup on their website. Proceeds fund affordable homeownership opportunities for area families, so your donation will go to a good cause that helps your community.
9. Habitat for Humanity Charlotte Region ReStore – University Location
Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore accepts book donations (and a wide variety of other items). You can drop off your books at one of their seven drop-off locations around Charlotte, or you can schedule a free pickup on their website. Proceeds fund affordable homeownership opportunities for area families, so your donation will go to a good cause that helps your community.
10. Camino Thrift Store
This thrift store is part of a network of community services called the Camino Community Center. Your donation will go toward a wide range of much-needed community services you can be proud of. Their store is also cute and has the feel of a neighborhood spot, so you might even want to stop and browse a while after you’re done dropping off your books.
There are plenty of places to donate books in the Charlotte area – which is great. You can find the one closest to you, or choose based on which organization’s mission is closest to your heart.
