JunkPDX

Book donations · Local guide

Book Donation: Library Friends, Condition Checks, and Large Loads

Match your Portland book collection to a recipient before packing. Check accepted subjects, condition and quantity limits, separate borrowed books and keepsakes, and use small sturdy boxes; a large collection needs a confirmed receiving and transport plan.

JunkPDX hauling is paid. Your onsite estimate is free. See community options below.

Book a Free EstimateText photos

Before you plan the job

Where can I donate books?

Friends of Multnomah County Library accepts qualifying books under its current donation guidelines. It lists a one-bag-or-box option at library locations and up to five boxes per day at Rose City Reads. Check the current subject, publication-date, and condition rules before packing a large collection.

For your Portland-area project, review household item hauling or call the local crew at (971) 325-2491.

By JunkPDX · Updated

Local donation and disposal options

Compare book donation and recycling routes

Check the linked provider before arranging a collection or drop-off.
OptionCost or effortConfirm first
Friends of Multnomah County LibrarySort and follow destination quantity limitsCurrent categories, publication dates, and condition
Paper recycling reviewIdentify format and conditionRead the accepted-paper guidance

The independent programs linked here set their own prices, acceptance rules and schedules. Arrange their collection or drop-off directly with the provider.

Official resources

Guide updated . Confirm current acceptance, prices and hours directly with the receiving program.

Step-by-step

Book donations: your checklist

0 of 4 steps checked. Your checks reset when you leave this page.

  1. Check the shelves before boxing

    Separate retained books, borrowed books, and items containing family notes or photographs. Retrieve loose papers. Set aside potentially valuable editions for an appraisal or buyer inquiry if you want to explore resale before donation.

  2. Match the collection to a recipient

    Review Friends of the Library's accepted categories and date cutoffs. Its exclusions include torn, dirty, moldy, water-damaged, strongly scented, heavily marked and ex-library books. Some textbooks, reference sets and older subject categories are excluded too. A Friends donation supports library fundraising; it is not automatic acceptance into the circulating collection.

  3. Pack for weight and identification

    Use small, sturdy boxes that you can handle comfortably. Label broad categories to help your own sorting. Keep rejected items separate so the receiving organization can assess the intended donation quickly.

  4. Schedule the large-collection plan

    Friends of the Library lists one bag or box at any Multnomah County Library during open hours. For up to five boxes per day, it lists Rose City Reads at 221 NE 122nd Ave., Suite A, Tuesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Confirm the current notice before loading, and discuss another arrangement for larger collections. JunkPDX paid hauling does not guarantee library donation.

What affects cost

What affects your household item hauling quote?

List the complete pickup and carrying route before comparing prices. Your onsite estimate is free; approve the full removal price before loading.

How Pricing Works

Common questions

Before you schedule.

Will all library branches take a large donation?

Do not assume so. Follow Friends of the Library's current quantity instructions and confirm a plan for a collection larger than its listed allowance.

Can unwanted books go in recycling?

Portland accepts paperback books in mixed recycling, but hardback books are excluded. Donate usable hardbacks or follow the City’s garbage guidance for copies that cannot be reused. Do not place moldy or contaminated material in recycling. Outside Portland, check your local provider’s rules before using a cart.

What if a charity rejects some books?

Keep a second plan for those titles. Ask another suitable recipient or seek recycling guidance rather than leaving the rejected boxes outside.