Question 1

What areas do you serve?

Accepted Answer

We offer free home book pickups in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and the DC area. Our other services — donation bins, thrift store partnerships, and library programs — are available nationwide.

Question 2

Is the pickup really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Home book pickups are completely free. We'll come to your location, pick up your books, and handle everything from there. All we ask is that you have at least 250 books ready.

Question 3

What types of books do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept all books — hardcovers, paperbacks, textbooks, children's books, foreign language books, coffee table books, cookbooks, religious texts, and more. We also accept magazines. The only things we can't take are books that are water-damaged or moldy.

Question 4

How should I prepare my books for pickup?

Accepted Answer

Please box or bag your books and place them somewhere accessible — a porch, garage, or front door works great. We'll handle the heavy lifting.

Question 5

How long does it take to schedule a pickup?

Accepted Answer

After you submit a pickup request, we typically schedule within 5-7 business days, depending on your location and our current route schedule.

Question 6

What happens to my books after pickup?

Accepted Answer

Every book is evaluated and sorted. Books with resale value are listed on online marketplaces or sold through wholesale channels. Books that can't be resold are recycled responsibly. Nothing goes to a landfill.

Question 7

How do donation bins work?

Accepted Answer

We place branded BookDrop bins at partner locations like shopping centers, community centers, and houses of worship. Community members can drop off books 24/7, and we empty the bins on a regular schedule.

Question 8

Can my organization host a donation bin?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! We're always looking for new bin locations. There's no cost to host a bin — we handle delivery, maintenance, and collection. Visit our Host a Bin page to request one.

Question 9

Do you work with libraries?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We partner with libraries to handle deaccessioned and withdrawn materials. We also work with Friends of the Library groups to pick up unsold book sale inventory.

Question 10

Do you buy books from thrift stores?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We purchase surplus book inventory from thrift stores on a regular schedule, providing revenue for books that would otherwise be discarded.

Frequently Asked Questions