Which Boston Libraries Accept Used Book Donations?

I can confirm that most libraries here welcome donations, but policies vary. The Boston Public Library system is your safest bet—I’ve seen them accept everything from sci-fi paperbacks to academic journals. Their Brighton Branch even has a dedicated donation day every month.

For niche genres, try specialty libraries like the Kirstein Business Library downtown—they’ll take finance or law books other places reject. The BPL’s mobile service, Books to Go, also picks up donations if you can’t drop them off.

Outside the city, the Newton Free Library has a year-round donation bin, and the Watertown Free Public Library resells donated books to fund their summer reading program. I’ve donated YA novels there, and they’re always in demand. Avoid donating encyclopedias or outdated travel guides—most libraries recycle them. If a library can’t take your books, they’ll usually redirect you to places like More Than Words in Waltham, a nonprofit that trains teens to resell donated books. Just remember: call ahead, check for damage, and never leave books outside after hours—rain ruins everything.

Donating used books in Boston is easier than you’d think, but it depends on what you’re giving away and where you go. The Boston Public Library’s main branch at Copley Square is the most reliable spot—they take everything from fiction to textbooks, as long as the books aren’t moldy or falling apart. I’ve donated art books there, and they even have a special collections desk for rare or vintage items.

If you’re near universities, try the Harvard Book Store in Cambridge. They don’t run a library, but they buy used books and donate unsold ones to local libraries. The Minuteman Library Network, which includes towns like Arlington and Lexington, accepts donations at their central warehouse. I volunteered there once, and they sort donations for over 40 libraries.

Smaller spots like the Jamaica Plain Branch Library or the East Boston Branch are hit-or-miss—they’ll take children’s books anytime but might refuse adult novels if their shelves are full. Pro tip: Libraries affiliated with churches or community centers, like the South End Branch, often have looser rules. I dropped off a stack of cookbooks there last winter, and they handed them out for free during a food drive. Always clean your books first—libraries appreciate donations that don’t smell like attic dust.

I’ve donated books to several libraries in Boston, and the Boston Public Library system is always a great place to start. They accept used books in good condition at most of their branches, especially the central location in Copley Square. I dropped off a box of novels there last month, and the staff was super friendly. The Cambridge Public Library also takes donations, but they’re pickier about condition—no yellowed pages or broken spines. If you’re near Somerville, the Somerville Public Library has a donation bin near the entrance. Just call ahead to confirm they’re accepting donations that week. Smaller community libraries like the West Roxbury branch sometimes host donation drives, so checking their social media pages helps. I’ve found that libraries with active Friends of the Library groups, like the Brookline Public Library, are more likely to accept donations because they resell them to fund programs. Always double-check their websites for current policies, though—some places pause donations during book sales or space renovations.