Donating Used Books in Toronto
Have books you no longer need? Toronto has several places to donate fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, textbooks, older books, comics, graphic novels and other reading materials.
The best option depends on the types of books you have, their age and condition, how many you are donating and whether you want pickup or prefer to drop them off yourself. Some Toronto organizations accept a broad range of books, while others have stricter rules based on age, language or subject.
This guide brings together Toronto book donation options with locations, accepted books and other details worth checking before you donate.
Places to Donate Books in Toronto
#1 DonateYourStuff.ca
DonateYourStuff.ca provides free scheduled donation pickup for qualifying books and learning materials throughout Toronto.
Donation method: Free scheduled pickup.
Accepts: Fiction and non-fiction books, hardcover and paperback books, children’s books, young adult books, textbooks, comics, graphic novels, manga, magazines, educational books, reference books, vintage books, collectible books, book sets and other qualifying printed materials.
Locations and hours:
- Toronto: Pickup is available throughout Toronto rather than through a public drop-off location. Pickup dates and arrival windows are arranged for qualifying donation requests.
Important details: Books should be clean, dry and in good readable condition, with covers and pages reasonably intact. Older books can still qualify. Books with active mould, serious water damage, contamination or major damage that makes them unusable are not accepted.
Pickup is generally better suited to several boxes, a larger book collection or books being donated with other accepted items.
Submit a pickup request with your location, the approximate number of books or boxes and a general description of what you have. The request is reviewed before pickup availability is confirmed by email.
Official information: Book Donation Pickup | Toronto Donation Pickup | Request a Donation Pickup
#2 Toronto Public Library
Toronto Public Library accepts qualifying books at branches throughout Toronto, but its regular branch donation requirements are fairly specific.
Donation method: Drop-off during branch open hours.
Accepts: Books in very good condition that are less than five years old. The Library accepts English and French books and prefers popular fiction and non-fiction in hardcover and paperback formats.
Locations and hours:
- Toronto Public Library branches: Donations are accepted during regular branch open hours. Check the branch locator before going.
Important details: Regular branch donations do not include magazines, computer books, textbooks, encyclopedias or multilingual books.
Donated books are generally sold rather than added to the Library’s circulating collection.
If your books are older, multilingual or outside the regular Library criteria, another option in this guide may be a better fit.
Official information: Toronto Public Library Book Donations
#3 Friends of Toronto Public Library BOOKEnds
BOOKEnds accepts a wider range of used books than regular Toronto Public Library branch donations.
Donation method: Drop-off.
Accepts: Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, children’s books, teen books, non-English books, vintage books and sheet music.
Textbooks, medical books and computer books are also accepted, with books less than five years old preferred for those categories.
BOOKEnds South also accepts magazines and audiobooks.
Locations and hours:
- BOOKEnds South: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto. Smaller donations of roughly two boxes or less can be placed in the donation box while Toronto Reference Library is open.
- BOOKEnds North: North York Central Library, Concourse Level, 5120 Yonge Street, North York. Smaller donations of roughly three boxes or less can be brought to the BOOKEnds desk during store hours.
Important details: Books should be in good condition and free from mould, water damage, smoke damage and missing pages.
Larger donations should be arranged with BOOKEnds before going.
BOOKEnds does not accept encyclopedias, VHS tapes or cassette tapes.
Official information: BOOKEnds Book Donations
#4 The Children’s Book Bank
The Children’s Book Bank is a Toronto option specifically for children’s and teen books.
Donation method: Drop-off on scheduled Book Donation Days.
Accepts: New and gently used books for children and teens from birth through age 18.
Books they particularly need include board books, picture books, preschool books, children’s non-fiction, popular children’s series, graphic novels and manga.
Locations and hours:
- Sherbourne Warehouse Donation Days: Shipping bay beside 334 Bleecker Street, Toronto.
- Morningside Book Bank: 1154 Morningside Avenue, Toronto.
Donation dates and hours are scheduled throughout the year. Check the current calendar before going.
Important details: The Children’s Book Bank does not accept textbooks, encyclopedias, workbooks, damaged books, library books or self-published books.
Books with water damage, significant yellowing or tears should not be donated through this program.
Do not bring book donations to the Regent Park storefront at 585 Dundas Street East.
Official information: The Children’s Book Bank Book Donations
#5 The Salvation Army Thrift Store
Salvation Army Donor Welcome Centres are a broad Toronto drop-off option for books and other smaller household donations.
Donation method: Drop-off at Donor Welcome Centres.
Accepts: New and gently used books and media, along with clothing, housewares, electronics, toys and other accepted smaller household items.
Locations and hours:
Toronto locations include:
- St. Clair: 665 St. Clair Avenue West
- Bloor: 1219 Bloor Street West
- Parkdale: 1447 Queen Street West
- North York: 3711 Keele Street
- Leslieville: 20 Leslie Street, Unit 101
- East York: 60 Overlea Boulevard
- Etobicoke: 2291 Kipling Avenue
- Scarborough, Eglinton: 1921 Eglinton Avenue East, Unit 7
- Scarborough, Kennedy: 1225 Kennedy Road, Unit D1
Donation hours vary by location. Check the current location finder before making a special trip.
Important details: Donations are brought directly to a Donor Welcome Centre. Residential donation pickup is not offered.
If you are donating books together with clothing, housewares, toys or other smaller items, Salvation Army can also be a useful multi-category drop-off option.
Official information: Salvation Army Donations | Location Finder
#6 City of Toronto Community Environment Days
Community Environment Days are seasonal events where Toronto residents can bring books and several other reusable items for donation.
Donation method: Seasonal drop-off events.
Accepts: Books for reuse, excluding textbooks.
Community Environment Days also accept several other reusable categories, including CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, clothing, footwear, small household items, musical instruments and board games.
Locations and hours:
- Toronto-wide events: Locations, dates and hours change throughout the season.
Important details: There is no permanent Community Environment Day book donation location.
Check the City’s current event schedule before going. If you have textbooks, use another option because textbooks are specifically excluded from the City’s book reuse collection.
Official information: Toronto Community Environment Days
How to Choose Where to Donate Your Books
The closest donation location is not always the best place for the books you have. Start with the type of books, their age and condition, how many boxes you have and whether you want to transport them yourself.
Start With the Type of Books You Have
Different Toronto book donation options accept different material.
DonateYourStuff.ca accepts a broad range of qualifying books for pickup, including fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, textbooks, comics, graphic novels, older books, reference materials and collectible books.
Toronto Public Library has much narrower requirements for regular branch donations. Books generally need to be less than five years old and in English or French.
BOOKEnds accepts older and vintage books, multilingual books and several other categories that regular Library branches do not accept.
The Children’s Book Bank is specifically for children’s and teen books.
Community Environment Days accept general books but exclude textbooks.
Consider How Much You Are Donating
One small bag or box of books may be easy to take to a nearby library branch, BOOKEnds store, Salvation Army Donor Welcome Centre or Community Environment Day.
Several boxes or a larger personal library can be much harder to transport.
DonateYourStuff.ca provides pickup for qualifying book donations and can also collect books together with other accepted categories.
BOOKEnds accepts larger donations too, but asks donors to contact the appropriate location before bringing them.
Check the Age and Condition
Older does not automatically mean unusable.
DonateYourStuff.ca accepts qualifying older, vintage and collectible books. BOOKEnds also accepts vintage books.
Toronto Public Library’s regular branch program generally requires books to be less than five years old.
Condition matters regardless of age. Mould, serious water damage, missing pages and contamination can make books unsuitable for reuse.
Check How the Donation Process Works
The organizations on this page do not all accept books the same way.
Toronto Public Library accepts qualifying books during branch open hours.
BOOKEnds accepts smaller donations without an appointment but asks donors to arrange larger donations.
The Children’s Book Bank only accepts donations at designated locations on scheduled Book Donation Days.
Community Environment Days take place at changing locations on specific dates.
DonateYourStuff.ca uses a pickup-request process. Submit information about your location and donation first, then wait for pickup availability to be confirmed.
Checking the process before packing the car can save a wasted trip.
What Types of Books Can You Donate in Toronto?
Toronto has options for many different types of reusable books.
Depending on the organization, these can include:
- Hardcover books
- Paperback books
- Fiction
- Non-fiction
- Children’s books
- Young adult books
- Cookbooks
- Biographies
- History books
- Art and photography books
- Hobby and instructional books
- Comics
- Graphic novels
- Manga
- Textbooks
- Educational books
- Reference books
- Vintage books
- Antique and collectible books
- Book sets and series
- Multilingual books
- Sheet music
DonateYourStuff.ca accepts a broad range of qualifying book types for pickup.
Toronto Public Library is more selective and focuses on newer English and French books.
BOOKEnds accepts a wider range that includes non-English books, vintage books and qualifying textbooks.
The Children’s Book Bank focuses on books suitable for children and teens.
Community Environment Days accept books for reuse but exclude textbooks.
The right destination depends on what is actually in your boxes.
How to Prepare Books for Donation
Taking a few minutes to check and pack your books properly can make them easier to handle and more likely to be accepted.
Check for Moisture and Mould
Books should be completely dry.
Check covers, pages and the inside edges of books for dampness, active mould, mildew or serious water damage.
Do not pack mouldy or wet books in the same box as reusable books.
Check the Pages and Covers
Look for missing pages, badly damaged bindings and other problems that prevent the book from being used normally.
Normal shelf wear and signs of age are different from serious damage.
An older book can still be useful if it remains complete, dry and readable.
Keep Sets and Collections Together
Keep matching books together when possible.
This is especially useful for:
- Book series
- Boxed sets
- Reference sets
- Children’s series
- Comic collections
- Manga collections
- Educational sets
- Magazine collections
Pack Books in Strong Boxes
Books become heavy quickly.
Use sturdy boxes with secure bottoms and avoid filling very large moving boxes completely with books.
Each box should remain manageable enough to move safely.
Separate Specialized Books
If you have a larger mixed collection, separating some categories can make it easier to choose the right donation option.
Useful groups can include:
- Children’s books
- Textbooks
- Comics and graphic novels
- Multilingual books
- Vintage books
- Collectible books
- Reference books
Check the Destination Before You Go
A book can be perfectly reusable and still fall outside a particular organization’s rules.
For example, Toronto Public Library does not accept textbooks or multilingual books through its regular branch donation program, while BOOKEnds accepts both.
For more general preparation information, see How to Prepare Your Donations.
Toronto Book Donation Questions
What happens to books after they are donated?
It depends on the organization and the books.
Donated books may be redistributed, resold to support an organization’s programs or moved through other reuse channels. Not every organization handles books in the same way, and donating a book does not necessarily mean that exact book will be given directly to another reader.
If you are donating through DonateYourStuff.ca, you can read more about where your items go.
Can I donate books with writing, highlighting or underlining?
A small amount of writing or highlighting does not automatically make every book unusable, but heavily marked books can be harder to donate.
A name on the first page or a few highlighted passages is very different from a book with extensive notes, answers or markings throughout it. The more the markings interfere with someone else being able to read or use the book normally, the less suitable it is for donation.
Should I check inside books before donating them?
Yes. Flip through your books before packing them.
Photographs, letters, receipts, money, cards, bookmarks, notes and other personal items are commonly left between pages. Check inside the front and back covers as well, especially when donating books that have been stored for a long time.
Can I donate books with a name or personal inscription inside?
A simple name, gift message or inscription usually does not affect whether the book can still be read and reused.
However, remove anything containing information you would not want passed on to someone else, such as an address, phone number or other private details.
Can I donate an incomplete book series or set?
It depends on the type of set.
Individual novels from a series can still be useful on their own. Reference sets, boxed sets and other collections designed to be used together may be less useful when important volumes are missing.
If you have several books from the same series or set, keep the matching volumes together when you donate them.
Can I donate books that used to belong to a library or school?
Only if the books were legitimately withdrawn, sold or otherwise became your property.
Do not donate books that still belong to a public library, school, college or university. Former library books may also have stamps, labels or other markings, so acceptance can vary between donation programs.
What should I do with books that cannot be donated?
Do not leave unwanted books outside a donation centre or beside a donation bin.
If books are mouldy, badly contaminated, severely water damaged or no longer reusable, use the City of Toronto’s Waste Wizard to check the appropriate recycling or disposal method for the material.
Have Books Ready to Donate in Toronto?
If pickup is more convenient, DonateYourStuff.ca accepts qualifying books for scheduled donation pickup throughout Toronto.
Review the book donation pickup requirements to see what qualifies and how pickup works. If you have other items to donate as well, check the full list of accepted donation items.
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Toronto Donation Guides
Looking for information about donating a specific type of item in Toronto? Explore our Toronto donation guides for pickup options, local drop-off locations, donation requirements and practical information about where to donate different items.
Book Your Pickup:
General Toronto Donation Guide
Clothing & Accessories
Books & Media
- Where to Donate Books in Toronto
- Where to Donate Music CDs in Toronto
- Where to Donate DVDs in Toronto
- Where to Donate VHS Tapes in Toronto
- Where to Donate Cassette Tapes in Toronto
- Where to Donate Vinyl Records in Toronto
Kids & Family
- Where to Donate Baby Items in Toronto
- Where to Donate Used Toys in Toronto
- Where to Donate Stuffed Animals in Toronto
- Where to Donate Board Games and Puzzles in Toronto
Electronics & Gaming
Household & Practical Items
- Where to Donate Household Items in Toronto
- Where to Donate Furniture in Toronto
- Where to Donate Tools in Toronto
Other Items
Donation Pickup Available Throughout Toronto
The book pickup and drop-off options in this guide can help people throughout Toronto, including downtown Toronto, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, East York, York and neighbourhoods across the east and west ends of the city.
DonateYourStuff.ca provides qualifying book donation pickup throughout Toronto, while the library branches, book donation centres, thrift stores and seasonal donation events in this guide provide alternatives for people who prefer to drop books off themselves.
A-D
Agincourt North, Agincourt South-Malvern West, Alderwood, Annex, Avondale, Banbury-Don Mills, Bathurst Manor, Bay-Cloverhill, Bayview Village, Bayview Woods-Steeles, Bedford Park-Nortown, Beechborough-Greenbrook, Bendale South, Bendale-Glen Andrew, Birchcliffe-Cliffside, Black Creek, Blake-Jones, Briar Hill-Belgravia, Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills, Broadview North, Brookhaven-Amesbury, Cabbagetown-South St. James Town, Caledonia-Fairbank, Casa Loma, Centennial Scarborough, Church-Wellesley, Clairlea-Birchmount, Clanton Park, Cliffcrest, Corso Italia-Davenport, Danforth, Danforth-East York, Don Valley Village, Dorset Park, Dovercourt Village, Downsview, Downtown Yonge East and Dufferin Grove.
E-H
East End Danforth, East L’Amoreaux, East Willowdale, Edenbridge-Humber Valley, Eglinton East, Elms-Old Rexdale, Englemount-Lawrence, Eringate-Centennial-West Deane, Etobicoke City Centre, Etobicoke West Mall, Fenside-Parkwoods, Flemingdon Park, Forest Hill North, Forest Hill South, Fort York-Liberty Village, Glenfield-Jane Heights, Golfdale-Cedarbrae-Woburn, Greenwood-Coxwell, Guildwood, Harbourfront-CityPlace, Henry Farm, High Park North, High Park-Swansea, Highland Creek, Hillcrest Village, Humber Bay Shores, Humber Heights-Westmount, Humber Summit, Humbermede and Humewood-Cedarvale.
I-L
Ionview, Islington, Junction Area, Junction-Wallace Emerson, Keelesdale-Eglinton West, Kennedy Park, Kensington-Chinatown, Kingsview Village-The Westway, Kingsway South, L’Amoreaux West, Lambton Baby Point, Lansing-Westgate, Lawrence Park North, Lawrence Park South, Leaside-Bennington, Little Portugal and Long Branch.
M-P
Malvern East, Malvern West, Maple Leaf, Markland Wood, Milliken, Mimico-Queensway, Morningside, Morningside Heights, Moss Park, Mount Dennis, Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown, Mount Pleasant East, New Toronto, Newtonbrook East, Newtonbrook West, North Riverdale, North St. James Town, North Toronto, O’Connor-Parkview, Oakdale-Beverley Heights, Oakridge, Oakwood Village, Old East York, Palmerston-Little Italy, Parkwoods-O’Connor Hills, Pelmo Park-Humberlea, Playter Estates-Danforth, Pleasant View and Princess-Rosethorn.
R-T
Regent Park, Rexdale-Kipling, Rockcliffe-Smythe, Roncesvalles, Rosedale-Moore Park, Runnymede-Bloor West Village, Rustic, Scarborough Village, South Eglinton-Davisville, South Parkdale, South Riverdale, St. Lawrence-East Bayfront-The Islands, St. Andrew-Windfields, Steeles, Stonegate-Queensway, Tam O’Shanter-Sullivan, Taylor-Massey, The Beaches, Thistletown-Beaumond Heights, Thorncliffe Park and Trinity-Bellwoods.
U-Y
University, Victoria Village, Wellington Place, West Hill, West Humber-Clairville, West Queen West, West Rouge, Westminster-Branson, Weston, Weston-Pelham Park, Wexford/Maryvale, Willowdale West, Willowridge-Martingrove-Richview, Woburn North, Woodbine Corridor, Woodbine-Lumsden, Wychwood, Yonge-Bay Corridor, Yonge-Doris, Yonge-Eglinton, Yonge-St. Clair, York University Heights and Yorkdale-Glen Park.