Donating books to Redbud
We accept like-new or very lightly used copies of books. As a small, independent bookstore, our capacity to evaluate, keep, or process large numbers of books is limited and thus we may not be able to consider all donation requests. If you would like to donate books, please email us at contact@redbudbooks.org to schedule an appointment with a member of our team to evaluate your potential donation. Do not dump your used books at the store without notifying us. You are welcome to drop off a handful of books to our staff at any time, but if you have a larger donation (up to 2-3 boxes or bags), please schedule an appointment with us. We will then review the books you intend to donate and make selections based on our criteria (outlined below).
Please note that we do not purchase used books; all titles are accepted as donations to Redbud Books. Potential donations must be delivered to our store (no more than 2-3 boxes or bags, unless previously approved) for consideration. Any titles we do not accept will be donated to Midwest Pages to Prisoners or another local organization with relevant needs.
While we will consider all items in excellent condition, we are primarily interested in the following genres and subject areas:
- Recent literature (fiction, essays, poetry, comics and graphic novels, dramatic works, etc.)
- Literature in translation or untranslated monographs in any language
- Academic or scholarly press titles, including journals
- Texts that align with any of our current subject areas or community interests
Please note that we do not accept books that:
- Have water or other environmental damage, mold or mildew, musty smell, insect damage, food stains, discoloration, etc.
- Contain underlinings, highlighting, marginalia, or other markings
- Show significant wear to or breakage of spines or binding
We also do not accept:
- Advanced reader copies (ARCs) or uncorrected proofs
- Unbound manuscripts
- Former library copies
- Textbooks
- Travel guides
- Encyclopedias & dictionaries
- Mass market paperbacks (with some exceptions)
- Magazines & newspapers
If you have any further questions about donating used books, please reach out to us at contact@redbudbooks.org.