What Happens to Donated Books in Albuquerque?
Published on March 21, 2026
By Josh Eldred
When you drop off a box of books, what actually happens next? Many donors wonder about the journey their books take after leaving the donation site. At New Mexico Literacy Project, I believe transparency builds trust, so let's walk through the entire process of what happens to your donated books in Albuquerque.
I've hand-sorted an estimated 500,000 pounds of books. Every single donation that comes through my facility follows a careful, intentional process designed to give your books a second life while supporting my operations.
Last verified October 2026 · Original research by Josh Eldred
Step 1: Books Get Hand-Sorted
When your donation arrives at my facility at 5445 Edith Blvd NE, Unit A in the North Valley (near the intersection of Edith and Montano), I begin the sorting process. Every book is handled individually and assessed for its condition, type, and potential use.
I separate donations into categories including:
- Children's books and early learning materials
- Fiction and literature
- Non-fiction and educational books
- Textbooks and academic materials
- Media, audiobooks, and special formats
This careful sorting ensures that each book reaches its best possible destination.
Step 2: Children's Books Are Donated Free
One of my core commitments is getting children's books into the hands of Albuquerque families at no cost. After sorting, quality children's books are donated free to community literacy partners and neighborhood Little Free Libraries. This is one of the things I'm most proud of.
If you're donating children's books specifically, you can feel good knowing they're going directly to support early literacy in my community. Learn more about donating children's books or read about how I put children's books where kids actually are.
Step 3: Books in Good Condition Are Resold
Books that are in sellable condition — no water damage, no broken spines, legible pages, and reasonable wear — are resold. This is an important part of my business model. I am a for-profit business, not a nonprofit, and resale revenue is how I fund my operations — free pickups, the 24/7 drop box, and my children's book donation program.
Being transparent: I don't provide tax deductions or donation receipts because I operate as a for-profit company. Your books generate revenue that allows me to continue serving Albuquerque.
Browse My Store
Want to see where donated books end up? My eBay store is stocked with hand-sorted books, DVDs, and CDs — all from donations like yours. Every purchase funds free pickups and children's books.
Step 4: The Small Share That's Truly Damaged Gets Paper-Recycled
Books that sell are resold online, readable books I can't resell go free to Little Free Libraries and community literacy partners, and books too damaged to read are recycled as paper. The measured numbers are in the Life Tables.
I connect donated books with new owners through online resale and free Little Free Library drop-offs, but I also recognize that some books have reached the end of their useful life.
If you have damaged books you're unsure about, you can learn more about donating damaged books.
My Philosophy: Books in Circulation
"I put usable books back into the community through resale and free giveaways." That's not a slogan—it guides every decision I make. Whether your books go free to children's hands, are resold to readers who want them, or are responsibly recycled, they're part of a system designed to extend their useful life rather than waste them.
Where I Do This Work
All of this happens at my facility in Albuquerque's North Valley:
5445 Edith Blvd NE, Unit A
Albuquerque, NM 87107
North Valley (Edith and Montano)
Phone: 505-250-3804
Ready to Donate?
I make it easy to donate books in Albuquerque. Choose what works best for you: