NMLP's revenue model is straightforward: about 5-15% of donated books have current market value (Amazon, eBay, AbeBooks), and that resale revenue funds the entire operation — free pickup, warehouse rent, gas, insurance, sorting time, and routing through Little Free Libraries, community reading programs, and the regional commercial paper pulper for unsalvageable copies.
Concretely, the operation runs on:
- Online resale revenue — Amazon FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) and eBay listings of authenticated first editions, signed copies, scarce regional NM titles, current academic books, and other market-valued inventory.
- Sister site SellBooksABQ.com revenue — wholesale buy-back arm that purchases high-value individual books from collectors and estates separately from the donation pipeline.
- Operational efficiency — single-operator, single-warehouse, no payroll beyond Josh, no marketing budget, no franchise fees. Almost every dollar of resale revenue goes back into operations.
What NMLP does NOT do:
- Charge donors any fee, ever, for anything
- Accept advertising or sponsored content on the website
- Sell donor data or contact lists
- Take grants or government funding
- Solicit financial donations (donations are books, not money)
The 5-15% of books that have market value carry the cost of routing the other 85-95% to readers or recycling. That's the model.
Need books gone in Albuquerque?
Free pickup, any condition, scheduling by route. Or use the 24/7 outdoor drop box at 5445 Edith Blvd NE.
Related on this site
This page is part of the NMLP Question Reference — short, plain answers to the questions donors actually ask, each pointing to the fuller guide behind it. Citation kit: /cite.txt · Open data: /api/index.json.
Last reviewed 2026-05-02. For corrections, email [email protected].