Whether you are looking to declutter, or simply house a desire to put your favourite titles back out in the world to be shared, there are plenty of places in Brisbane where you can donate your books. With different charities and education facilities opening their doors to your offerings, in many cases your gifted books will not only help families in need, but also promote literacy and learning to those who are not able to afford them new.
Things to keep in mind when donating your old books
Although it is wonderfully generous to donate books you no longer need to either those in need or to a new home, there are a few courtesy things to take note of that will be helpful to those they are going to.
- Make sure any book you are donating is undamaged and clean.
- Do not donate anything that you would not be happy passing along to a family member.
- Remove any personal identification markers from them (name stickers etc).
- Make sure you are donating books to a relevant charity or store.
- Find somewhere local first if you can, to support those in your community.
- Check first which types of books are accepted at your chosen donation point. Some have books types that they don’t (or can’t) accept.
Places to donate books in Brisbane
Save the Children
Donation Type: Drop off at local Save The Children op shops.
Location: Multiple locations around Brisbane.
Charity type: Raising money to protect children from harm and help them access quality education and health services.
What books are accepted: All books in good condition
What books are not accepted: Textbooks over 3 years old, magazines over 1 year old
Website: Save the Children
The Salvation Army
Donation Type: Direct to the store during business hours.
Location: Multiple locations around Brisbane.
Charity type: Supporting people who may be experiencing hardship or injustice, as well as assisting during national crisis.
What books are accepted: Any books that you are happy to keep using yourself but just don’t need anymore.
What books are not accepted: Any books that are broken, damaged, ripped, stained or in any way faulty.
Website: The Salvation Army
Street Libraries
Donation Type: Donate books straight into your local street library cupboard.
Location: Over 300 registered street libraries in Brisbane alone.
Charity type: Assisting local communities by sharing books with neighbours.
What books are accepted: Anything suitable for local community families.
What books are not accepted: Damaged books.
Website: Street Libraries
Brisbane City Council Treasure Troves
Donation Type: Drop off at the resource recovery centres.
Location: There are four resource recovery centres located at Willawong, Chandler, Ferny Grove and Nudgee.
Charity type: BCC operates two second-hand shops, which sell items donated by Brisbane residents.
What books are accepted: Any books that are in good, clean condition.
What books are not accepted: Resource recovery centre officers may refuse to accept items for donation that are not considered saleable.
Website: Brisbane City Council Treasure Troves
Local Schools
Donation Type: Drop off to the school
Location: Find your local school location here.
Charity type: Supporting education and learning through reading to school-aged children.
What books are accepted: Call your local school to ask what books they may like provided. Age-appropriate books.
What books are not accepted: Adult books, damaged books. Call school first.
Children’s Hospital Foundation
Donation Type: Drop off directly to the hospital.
Location: Level 2, Queensland Children’s Hospital 199 Grey Street, South Brisbane
Charity type: Providing unwavering support and countless smiles to kids currently being treated at the Children’s Hospital.
What books are accepted: Due to health regulations, books donated must be new. In particular, they always need colour-in books. They also have a Wishlist.
What books are not accepted: Any books that are for adults, already used, or damaged.
Website: Children’s Hospital Foundation
New Farm Neighbourhood Centre
Donation Type: Drop off at the centre.
Location: 967 Brunswick St, New Farm
Charity type: Supporting the local community with a variety of free classes as well as the free use of the on-site kitchen, laundry, showers and computers.
What books are accepted: All good quality books.
What books are not accepted: Damaged books.
Website: New Farm Neighbourhood Centre
North West Brisbane Community Hub
Donation Type: Drop off direct to centre.
Location: 180 Jubilee Tce, Bardon
Charity type: Supporting the community through emergency relief, social support, and community groups and events.
What books are accepted: All good quality books.
What books are not accepted: Any damaged books.
Website: North West Community Hub
Lifeline and Lifeline Bookfest
Donation Type: Drop off to lifeline store. Pick up is available if you have a large number of books.
Location: Many op shop locations around Brisbane. The Brisbane Bookfest is located at: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane
Charity type: Supporting the Lifeline Community Crisis line as well as other community recovery and support programs.
What books are accepted: All books in good condition are accepted.
What books are not accepted: Any damaged books.
Website: Lifeline Qld
Australian Red Cross
Donation Type: Over the counter at any Red Cross Shop during trading hours, or in the specially-marked charity bins in-store.
Location: Multiple locations around Brisbane.
Charity type: Supporting communities during crisis and disasters.
What books are accepted: Any good quality books that are clean and reusable.
What books are not accepted: Stained or damaged goods.
Website: Australian Red Cross
Brothers ‘n’ Books
Donation Type: Drop off.
Location: Cystic Fibrosis Queensland Bookshop, 3/160 Ryans Rd, Nundah | Wounded Heroes Australia, 41A Brisbane Rd, Bundamba.
Charity type: Supporting mental health by setting up community libraries all over Australia, and service men and women in particular to read more books when they are facing hardship.
What books are accepted: Any fiction or nonfiction.
What books are not accepted: Children’s books, magazines, encyclopaedias.
Website: Brothers and Books
St Vincent De Paul Society
Donation Type: Donate directly to local stores.
Location: Many locations around Brisbane.
Charity type: Supporting disadvantaged people and those living in poverty.
What books are accepted: All good quality books.
What books are not accepted: Any damaged books.
Website: St Vincent De Paul Society
Care Kits for Kids
Donation Type: Drop off.
Location: Numerous drop off points around Brisbane.
Charity type: Books are added to Care Kits that provide essential needs to children in care or crisis.
What books are accepted: Books for kids aged 0-16 (especially teen fiction), must be in excellent condition, unused colouring and activity books.
What books are not accepted: Books for adults, damaged books.
Website: Care Kits for Kids
Givit
Donation Type: Online donation site.
Charity type: Linking people who have things to donate with those who need them. Supporting organisations working with vulnerable people across Australia.
What books are accepted: If it’s good enough for you to give to a family member then it’s something that will help someone who is facing extreme hardship.
What books are not accepted: Anything damaged, lost, stolen.
Website: Givit
Books for PNG Kids
Donation Type: Drop off in book bin.
Location: Multiple locations (listed on website).
Charity type: Aims to boost literacy for all children through the equitable distribution of books and resources in PNG, particularly in remote areas where many children are disadvantaged.
What books are accepted: Early Readers, primary school fiction and non-fiction, atlases, dictionaries, thesauruses, bibles.
What books are not accepted: Encyclopaedias older than 6yrs, university textbooks.
Website: Books for PNG Kids
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