How to Donate & Sell Used Textbooks
There is an ongoing need for used textbooks in the United States and around the world. Numerous organizations distribute donated textbooks to low-income families, incarcerated populations and school districts that lack the resources to purchase new books. Students and other scholars also save money by buying used textbooks. By donating or selling used textbooks, you can help students and communities learn and achieve.
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Instructions
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Decide whether you want to donate or sell your used textbooks.
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Make a list of the titles to have handy when you contact organizations to donate or sell.
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To donate, contact your favorite local charity, or call your local Goodwill Industries store. Goodwill Industries is a national nonprofit that operates retail stores with donated goods to fund career training and employment programs in their communities. It accepts donated textbooks, manuals and regular books.
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Donate used textbooks to a prison library program. Such programs provide quality reading material to incarcerated men and women for self-education. One example is Books Through Bars, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with programs in dozens of prisons in the United States and Canada.
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Call local school districts to find out whether they accept donated books. Do the same with public libraries, places of worship, civic organizations or day-care centers near you.
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If you decide to sell your used textbooks, the easiest method of getting the world out is to post flyers on the bulletin boards at schools. High schools and colleges teach some of the same courses every year, so there are always new students needing the same textbooks. On the flyer, list the book's title and the course in which it's used.
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If you have a large quantity of used textbooks, consider listing them on a bulletin-style Web site, such as Craigslist, and selling them as a library. Buyers will often come to your location and pick them up from you.
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Offer to sell your used textbooks to a local used book store or college bookstore. Most stores will accept used books in good condition, without markings on the pages or other signs of wear.
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Tips & Warnings
Some charities will offer a tax deduction for your gift of used textbooks, so ask for a receipt when you donate.
Don't expect to get full price for your used textbooks. Typically, used textbooks will resell for about half the retail cost if they are in good condition.
