Where to donate old books when they do not sell
By the ApnaBook team · 2 min read · Updated
Not every book will sell, and that is fine. A book that is no longer worth money to a buyer can still be exactly what a student, a small library or a reading programme needs. The key is to give the right books to the right place.
Ask before you drop off
The most common mistake is leaving boxes of books somewhere without asking. Many organisations have limited space and only take certain kinds of books. A quick call or message about what they accept saves them the work of disposing of books they cannot use.
Good places to try
- Your old school, for textbooks and reference books for the current syllabus. Many schools run book banks for students who cannot afford new books.
- Government school libraries and anganwadis near you, especially for children's books and story books in local languages.
- Community, college and public libraries, for good-condition fiction and non-fiction.
- NGOs and reading programmes that work with children or adult literacy.
- Hostels, hospitals and old-age homes, which often welcome novels and magazines.
What usually is and is not wanted
Books that are clean, complete and reasonably current are welcome almost everywhere. Textbooks from a syllabus that has changed, workbooks that have been filled in, and books with mould or water damage are rarely useful to anyone. Be honest with yourself about which pile a book belongs in.
Recycle the rest properly
Books that cannot be read any more still have value as paper. Your local raddiwala or a paper recycling collection will take them. Remove plastic covers, spiral bindings and CDs first where you can, since they cannot be recycled with the paper.
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