Alert message: Masks

 The City of San Jose strongly recommends all people (ages 2+) wear a mask at all SJPL branch locations. Masks are still required at the King Library.

  1. Home
  2. Your Library
  3. Get Involved
  4. Friends of the Library
  5. Donate Your Materials

Donate Your Materials

stacks of used books

Now Accepting Donations at Select Locations

Friends of the Library are now accepting items at donation bins. We recommend that you telephone first to confirm space is available before taking donations for drop off at these library locations:

Unsolicited Donations of Materials to the Library Collection

Gifts are evaluated based on the same criteria as purchased materials. Acceptance of donated items is subject to the discretion of the collection development librarians. Donated items not added to the collection are not returned to the donor, but instead are offered to the Friends of the Library, which provides funds for system programs. Monetary donations are encouraged as an alternate form of giving that allows collection development librarians to choose materials guided by this policy.

What To Do with Used Magazines, Encyclopedias, Textbooks, and VHS Media

But what if you have gently used magazines, National Geographic issues, encyclopedias, textbooks, Reader's Digest condensed books or VHS Media that you don’t need? Unfortunately, most library Friends groups cannot accept these types of items. So, what can you do with them, especially if you'd prefer that they be re-used rather than simply recycled?

Here is a list of organizations in the local area that may accept donations in these categories — provided that the items are in good condition. This list was compiled by searching recyclestuff.org. Please call each organization before donating, since it may no longer accept the kind of donation you are planning to give.

Magazines

National Geographic Magazine

Encyclopedias

Textbooks