Donate Books and Materials

Where to Donate Books and Materials

FOAL Bookstore at Glencarlyn Library

We accept donations year-round to stock our semi-annual book sales and our library book stores. Donations are accepted at Central Library and all open branches.

All donated books should be in sellable condition – clean, no highlighting, underlining, or writing in the margins. For school specific donations, click here for additional donation guidelines.

We no longer accept or sell:  CDs, DVDs, albums, sheet music, manuals, encyclopedias or textbooks.

At Central Library, donations can be placed on the white bins just outside the FOAL bookstore near the Charlie Clark Center for Local History. Larger donations are accepted at the Central Library loading dock (near 10th Street) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between the hours of 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Please ring the buzzer and someone will come to assist you.

Receipts for your donations are available from staff at the time of delivery and at all branch Circulation desks.

In addition to books, other materials accepted for the semi-annual sales include:

  • Board games
  • Puzzles
  • Comic books and graphic novels
  • Blank journals
  • Bookmarks
  • Recent magazines (no older than 1 year)
  • Unused greeting cards
  • Unused postcards

Donation guidelines for schools/classrooms

Condition Matters: we only accept items in excellent condition. Please do not donate materials that are:

  • Worn, damaged, or dirty
  • Marked with stickers or writing
  • Yellowed or browned pages

Publication Date

  • No books older than 10 years, especially nonfiction titles.
  • Exceptions may be made for high-demand or classic titles in pristine condition.

Not Accepted

  • Phonics or leveled readers
  • Supplemental texts (especially nonfiction)
  • Sets of duplicate copies

Accepted Items

  • Hardcover picture books (must be under 10 years old and in good condition)
  • Chapter books and series books (hardcover and paperback, good condition)

Media and Games

  • No cassette tapes (formerly used in listening centers)
  • Boxed games are okay
  • No games in plastic bags or folders

Rehoming Unaccepted Items: If your materials don’t meet our guidelines, consider donating them to:

  • Students or classrooms
  • Little Free Libraries
  • Community giveaways (e.g., summer reading programs)
  • Local Facebook groups (especially active in May–June for summer reading donations)

Thank you for your support of the Friends of the Arlington Public Library.

Semi-annual Book Sales

We normally hold two large book sales a year at  Central Library at 1015 N. Quincy Street. The closest Metro stops are Ballston and Virginia Square on the Orange Line.

Volunteers are always needed for these sales. Sign up to volunteer.

Buying Books throughout the Year

Aurora Hills, Central Library, Cherrydale, Columbia Pike, Courthouse, Glencarlyn, Shirlington, and Westover all have book stores where you can purchase used books and magazines and support FOAL!

Payment for these books is made at the circulation desks.

Donations are accepted at all branches.

The Donation Processing Team

The Library is grateful to have a dedicated group of volunteers known as the Donation Processing Team. These committed individuals play a vital role in supporting library services by carefully sorting and preparing donated materials for our semi-annual book sales and branch bookstores. Their efforts help extend the life of books and other materials, promote sustainability, and generate valuable funds that support library programs and services.

Volunteers receive great perks! Sign up to volunteer.

Check out our FAQs page if you have other questions.