A donor-friendly four-tier condition grading framework. Distinct from the collector-oriented grades (Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor) — designed for donors deciding what to donate where.
Collectors use a six-tier grading system: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor. That vocabulary is technical, used in auction catalogs and dealer descriptions, and assumes the reader knows what "rubbing to dust jacket spine ends" means. Donors don't need that vocabulary. Donors need to know one thing: which condition tier does this book fall into, and which channel will accept it?
The donor-friendly framework below uses four tiers — Shelf-Ready, Reader-Ready, Salvage-Ready, Recycle-Only — and explicitly tells the donor which channels accept each tier. The four tiers map cleanly to NMLP's three routing tracks (resale, donation forward, paper recycling), so the framework is also operationally useful at the warehouse sort.
1. Shelf-Ready
Looks like: intact, clean, no visible damage · Accepted by: every legitimate channel · NMLP track: typically Track 1 or Track 2
Shelf-Ready books could be put on a public library or used-bookstore shelf today and not look out of place. Spine intact, cover clean, pages unmarked, no foxing (rust-colored age spots) or major stains, dust jacket present and reasonably preserved if originally issued with one. Hardcover or paperback both qualify.
Examples: a 2022 trade paperback bestseller you read once; a hardcover novel from your shelf you've decided you won't reread; a clean cookbook still in good shape; a children's book with intact cover and pages.
Where to donate Shelf-Ready books: Goodwill of New Mexico, Savers, Friends of the Albuquerque Public Library (selective intake), Bookworks (trade credit for current titles), Better World Books drop boxes, NMLP. Any tax-receipt-issuing 501(c)(3) for the deduction. Or NMLP for free pickup convenience.
2. Reader-Ready
Looks like: readable but with cosmetic wear · Accepted by: some thrift channels, all of NMLP · NMLP track: typically Track 2 (donation forward)
Reader-Ready books are readable and pleasant in the hand, but show wear. Common indicators: scuffed cover, creased spine, light highlighter or pencil marks (textbook common), age yellowing on page edges, soft corners, mild shelf wear, missing dust jacket on a hardcover where the body is fine, sun-fading on the spine.
Examples: a college textbook with a couple of marked-up chapters; a paperback novel you actually read several times; a children's book with a slightly scuffed cover but readable pages; a hardcover from a parent's library where the dust jacket is gone but the book itself is solid.
Where to donate Reader-Ready books: NMLP accepts all Reader-Ready donations and routes them to Track 2 — LFL stewards, classroom libraries, hospital reading programs, care facilities. Goodwill and Savers accept some Reader-Ready donations but reject many at intake. Friends of the Library typically rejects this tier. Bookworks rejects.
3. Salvage-Ready
Looks like: not pleasant but contains intact content · Accepted by: NMLP · NMLP track: Track 2 if reader-fit, otherwise Track 3
Salvage-Ready books contain intact content but aren't pleasant to read. Common indicators: water damage to covers but pages still readable; smoke saturation from a longtime smoker's home; broken spine but binding still holding; missing dust jacket on a vintage hardcover; heavy highlighter throughout a textbook; basement-musty smell that may dissipate; cat-scratched cover but body fine; outdated reference (pre-1990 encyclopedias) with no current use.
Most thrift channels reject Salvage-Ready donations at intake. Goodwill, Savers, Friends of the Library, Better World Books, Bookworks — all generally decline.
Where to donate Salvage-Ready books: NMLP. The warehouse sort handles each book individually — some Salvage-Ready books still find readers (a textbook with marked-up chapters can still teach the unmarked chapters; a smoke-saturated novel can air out). Books that can't be salvaged route to Track 3 paper recycling rather than landfill.
4. Recycle-Only
Looks like: cannot be salvaged for any reading or display use · Accepted by: NMLP, commercial pulpers · NMLP track: Track 3 (paper recycling)
Recycle-Only books cannot be salvaged for any reading or display purpose. Common indicators: extensive mold or mildew throughout pages and covers; structural collapse (pages falling out, binding completely broken); severe water saturation that warped and stuck pages together; fire damage; rodent damage to interior pages; books partially destroyed by infestation, weather, or long-term storage failure.
Every channel except NMLP and direct paper recyclers reject these donations. Many donors throw them in the trash, sending them to the Cerro Colorado landfill. NMLP accepts Recycle-Only donations because the alternative is landfill — the regional commercial paper pulper handles binding removal and pulps the paper into newsprint, cardboard, or other recycled products.
Where to donate Recycle-Only books: NMLP free pickup. Bag mold-damaged or smoke-saturated stacks separately if possible — a black contractor bag is fine — and mention it when you call. NMLP's warehouse handles damaged-paper donations with appropriate equipment. There's no extra fee. Don't put hardcover Recycle-Only books in the City of Albuquerque residential blue bin — the binding glue and board covers contaminate the paper-recycling stream.
Quick reference table
Grade
NMLP
Goodwill / Savers
Friends of APL
Better World Books
Shelf-Ready
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Reader-Ready
Yes
Some
Generally no
Generally no
Salvage-Ready
Yes
No
No
No
Recycle-Only
Yes
No
No
No
"Some" for Goodwill / Savers Reader-Ready means it depends on the specific book, the day, and the staff member at intake.
Don't pre-sort by condition for NMLP
NMLP accepts all four grades, so don't waste time sorting your stack before pickup. The warehouse runs the sort. Save the energy for your move or your closing date.