Book Donation Checklist
Quick steps to prepare your books before donation
Preparing your books for donation doesn't require a lot of preparation. I've kept it simple so you can donate quickly and easily. Here's a quick checklist to help you get ready.
Last verified May 2026 · Original research by Josh Eldred
Before You Donate: A Simple Checklist
Check for Personal Items
Quickly flip through your books and check for bookmarks, notes, receipts, photos, or cash that might have been left inside. These are easy to miss. If you find something personal, remove it before donating.
Remove Bookplates (Optional)
If you have personal bookplates or nameplate stickers in your books, you can remove them if you prefer. But this is entirely optional—I accept books with bookplates just fine. Do what feels right to you.
Don't Sort by Genre or Condition
You don't need to organize books by type, genre, or condition. Fiction, non-fiction, reference, children's books—everything can go together. Worn books, highlighted pages, bent spines—all acceptable. Just pack them up as they are.
Pack Books Safely
Use medium-sized boxes or bags for your books. Don't overfill them—they should still be manageable to carry. If you're picking up from a store, banana boxes work great. Just make sure boxes aren't too heavy.
Choose Your Donation Method
Schedule free pickup from your home, or bring your books to our 24/7 drop box. Either way, the donation process is fast and easy.
You're Done!
That's it. You've done your part. Your donated books are now ready to find new readers in the Albuquerque community.
What About Books in Poor Condition?
Don't worry. I accept books in any condition. If a book has a torn cover, highlighted pages, water damage, or marks inside, I still take it. Books that might not be suitable for resale still have value—they may be used for craft projects, donations to other organizations, or recycled responsibly.
The only items I cannot accept are books that are moldy or have pest damage. These pose health and contamination risks and cannot be processed.
Books I Accept
I take all types of books:
- • Hardcover and paperback
- • Fiction and non-fiction
- • Children's books and textbooks
- • Reference books and encyclopedias
- • Books in any condition (worn, marked, water-damaged)
Quick Checklist to Print
Common Mistakes When Donating Books
Most people do fine with their donations, but I do see patterns in what makes donations harder to process. Knowing what to avoid helps us sort and distribute books faster.
Wet or Water-Damaged Boxes
This is the biggest issue I see. Books in wet boxes arrive already moldy or damp. Wet books can't be resold and pose contamination risks if I try to dry and process them. If your boxes got rained on, or if you stored them in a damp garage, the books inside may be unsalvageable. Store donations in a dry place before bringing them in. If they do get wet, let them dry completely before dropping them off.
Mixing Books with Trash or Non-Book Items
I occasionally get boxes where books are mixed with old magazines, junk mail, broken toys, or other debris. I only process books—not magazines, not cardboard scraps, not broken items. It slows down my sorting when I have to pull non-book items out of every box. Keep donations to books only. If you have other media (DVDs, CDs), I accept those too, but keep them separate or clearly labeled.
Overloaded Boxes That Are Too Heavy to Lift
Books are heavy. A standard box full of hardcovers can weigh 50+ pounds. If a box is so heavy that even an adult can't comfortably lift it, it's too heavy. Use medium-sized boxes and don't pack them completely full. This makes it easier on you (less risk of dropping them), easier on me (I can move them without injury), and ensures nothing breaks during transport or donation.
What If You Have More Than 10 Boxes?
If you're clearing out a whole library, multiple boxes might be more than you want to haul to the drop box yourself. Here's how to handle large donations.
Free Pickup Option: Any donation bigger than what fits comfortably in a car should probably be picked up. Call 702-496-4214 and tell me roughly how many boxes you have. I'll schedule a time that works for your schedule and come get them all at once. Whether you have 10 boxes or 50 boxes, pickup is free. This works for homes, offices, schools, and organizations.
Multiple Drop-Box Visits: If you prefer to drop them off yourself and don't mind making a couple trips, that's fine too. You can visit the 24/7 drop box as many times as needed. Some people split their donation across a few visits rather than making one massive run.
School and Institutional Collections: If you're a school, library, or organization with textbooks, class sets, or whole-collection donations, definitely schedule a pickup. I've handled collection removals for K-12 schools, district-wide book purges, and institutional library cleanouts. No sorting required on your end—just tell me what you're clearing and when I can come get it.
How Long Does Donating Take?
Time estimates depend on your method. Here's what to expect.
24/7 Drop Box Visit
How long: 5–10 minutes. Just drive up, open the box, unload your books, and go. The whole process is quick and no interaction needed.
Scheduling Free Pickup
Phone call: 5 minutes to describe your donation and schedule. Pickup day: I'll come to you. You just need to have books ready near a door or garage for easy loading. Whole process typically takes 15–30 minutes depending on box count.
Preparing Books Before Donation
Quick check: 10–15 minutes to flip through for personal items. Packing: 20–30 minutes depending on collection size. Most people spend less than an hour total preparing their donation.
That's Really All There Is
I've made book donation as straightforward as possible because I know you're busy. You don't need to sort, organize, or spend hours preparing your books. A quick check for personal items and some basic packing is all that's necessary.
Whether you choose free pickup or our 24/7 drop box, donating your books is quick and easy. I handle the heavy lifting—literally.
Ready to donate? Schedule your free pickup or visit my drop box location today.