Last verified October 2026 · Original research by Josh Eldred
PCS Move Reality: Books Are Heavy, Time Is Short
A military PCS move is one of the most stressful logistics challenges you'll face as a military family. The military weighs your household goods down to the pound, and every ounce over your weight allowance costs extra money out of your own pocket. Then there's the reality of timelines: clearing quarters, coordinating with movers, getting paperwork signed off—it all needs to happen fast.
Books? They're one of the first things to go because they're heavy. A single box of books can weigh 40–50 pounds. That adds up quickly. If you've been collecting books for years—novels, textbooks, professional reading material for your career—you could easily be looking at hundreds of extra pounds that eat into your weight allowance and your moving budget.
The good news: you don't have to throw them away or figure out what to do with them at the last minute.
Free Book Pickup for Military Families
Military families anywhere in the Albuquerque metro get the same free pickup as everyone else. Pickups are scheduled by route, so if your pack-out date is close, use the 24/7 drop box instead. No sorting needed, and water-damaged books are fine (moldy ones: text a photo first).
Here's how it works:
- Call or email to schedule: 505-250-3804 or [email protected]
- Tell me your timeline and location
- I pick up your books at your home in the metro
- You get your space back, your weight allowance stays intact, and your books find new homes
If your pack-out is only a few weeks away, the drop box is the reliable choice: it is open every hour of every day, and someone is at the warehouse from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help unload a bigger load.
24/7 Book Drop Box—No Appointment Needed
If you prefer to drop off on your own schedule, I have a 24/7 drive-up drop box:
5445 Edith Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87107
(near Edith and Montaño in the North Valley; the covered box is outside the gate, by the road)
Drive up anytime, day or night, and drop off your books. No lines, no waiting, no appointment. This works great if you're busy with move-out details and just need to clear out your books quickly.
What I Accept (Everything)
Don't worry about sorting or condition. I take:
- Novels and fiction
- Textbooks and educational materials
- Professional and military reading material
- Children's books (especially welcome)
- DVDs and CDs
- Books in any condition—worn, marked up, outdated, damaged
Every book is sorted by hand at the warehouse. Children's books I can't resell go free to community literacy partners and Little Free Libraries around Albuquerque.
Why Donate Instead of Throwing Away?
Sending books to the landfill is wasteful, and hauling them across the country at a per-pound moving rate doesn't make sense financially when you could donate them instead. By donating, you're making space for your move and reducing your weight allowance cost—which keeps money in your family's pocket for other PCS expenses.
I find new readers for every book I can, connecting them with readers in Albuquerque and throughout New Mexico who need them. It's a practical solution for your move and a contribution to literacy in your community.
Military Family? I'm Here for You
Military families move fast and move often. I get it. The drop box takes books any hour, which fits a pack-out week better than waiting for a pickup slot.
Get in touch:
- Free pickup: 505-250-3804 or [email protected]
- 24/7 drop box: 5445 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107