Donate Books

Our work wouldn’t be possible without book donations! However, there are certain kinds of books we always need and others we don’t. Before you donate, please check the guidelines below.

Please contact us before donating!

Our needs are always changing and our storage space is limited. Contact us at donations@booksthroughbars.org before donating to ensure that your donation fits our current needs and to arrange a convenient donation time.

In your email or phone call, please specify in writing (not pictures, please):

  • How many books (approximately) you intend to donate

  • The condition of the books and whether they are hardcover or paperback

  • The subject matter/genre of the books

Donating books from our Bookshop.org wishlist

All titles on our Bookshop.org wishlist are in demand all the time! If you want to purchase books from our wishlist, they can be shipped to us at 4722 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143. And by ordering from Bookshop.org, you will be supporting small booksellers. Thank you!

READ THIS BEFORE DONATING

  • We are currently accepting book drives on a limited basis! We have been really busy sending out loads of books lately and are running out of many subjects. If you would like to host a book drive at your school, workplace or social space, please contact us to find out how to start!

  • We accept books only in new, good condition, or lightly used. Please do not donate a book to us that you would not gift to a loved one.

  • We do not accept hardcover books. Many prisons do not accept them and they are expensive to mail.

  • Please review the topics we currently need (listed below). Other than the topics listed below, we will accept books on a case-by-case basis.

  • Please donate books in a box or bag that you do not need returned to you.

“What kind of books do we need most right now?” (last updated 5/29/25)

BOOKS WE NEED Right Now

  • Black / African history / biography (especially revolutionary i.e. Black Panthers)

  • Business: investing / real estate / grant writing / how to start a business

  • Vocational: trucking / electrical / automotive / HVAC / plumbing / welding

  • Role playing games: Pathfinder / Warhammer / Dungeons&Dragons

  • Law: criminal/civil procedure // rules of court / tort law

  • Weekly planner / address book

  • World Almanac

  • Genre Fiction: Romance / Mafia / Erotica

  • Cars / trucks / motorcycles / ATVs / dirt bikes

  • Fill-in puzzles: word search / sudoku / crossword

  • Physician’s Desk Reference / pill book” / DSM-5 / dictionary of psychology

  • Self help: general / inspirational / addiction (NA / AA, secular if possible, please!)

  • Off-grid / homesteading / wilderness survival skills / camping / RV / boating

  • Equipment free exercise (emphasis on building muscle NOT weight loss)

  • Language instruction: Spanish / Arabic / Hebrew

  • Art instruction: drawing / painting / tattooing

  • Bible / Noble Quran / Torah

  • Yoga / Meditation

  • True Crime

  • Humor / jokes

  • Paganism / Wicca

  • Occult / supernatural

  • Astrology / tarot / crystals / palmistry

  • African / Latin American / Indigenous religion/spirituality

  • Sports: wrestling / boxing / martial arts / American football

  • Science: astronomy / technology / quantum physics / anatomy

  • Music: bio / history / mags // hip-hop / metal / rock n roll

  • Conspiracy theories / secret societies / UFO

  • Magazines: Sports / Business / Celebrities / Video Games / “Gentlemen’s” / Outdoors / Automobiles

  • Books in Spanish: Business / Vocational “Trades” / Religion / Self Help / Genre Fiction WE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH NOVELS IN SPANISH!

 BOOKS WE don’t NEED

  • Hardcover books

  • Computer / law / investing / resource guides older than 5 years

  • Books on secular subjects with religious tone / content

    (i.e. “God’s plan for your finances” or “Bible word search”)

  • Books advocating sexism, homophobia, or white supremacy

  • Books with notes / underlining / mold / stains

  • Heavily warped / worn / torn / yellowed books

BOOKS WE Have more than enough of right now

  • Sci - Fi / Fantasy (WOW!)

  • Egyptology (WOW!)

  • Computer programming (WOW!)

  • Plays (theater)

  • Children’s and young adult

  • General fiction (non-genre fiction)

  • LSAT / SAT / GRE test prep

  • Books specifically for women

  • Parenting

  • Academic writing / journals

BOOKS WE could use more of

  • High School Math : algebra / geometry

  • Art books (full page / color images please!)

  • LGBTQIA+: books for gay men

  • Comic books / graphic novels / manga

  • Judaism / Islam / Christianity

  • Mythology / urban legends / folk tales

  • Crochet / origami / card making

  • GED test prep

  • Coloring

  • Fiction: Thriller / Mystery / Horror / Westerns / Urban Fiction (“Hood Books”)