If you have a bunch of unused books lying around the house, you can give them a second life by using the Books2all app to donate books to school libraries. Our app will connect you to the best schools near you that are in need of your donations.
Below we’ve prepared a guide on what books to donate, as well as the best ways to prepare for a donation.
What Kinds of Books Should You Donate?
Children need to engage with a large variety of books and topics to develop their general knowledge, creativity, and life skills. When you donate books to school libraries, any of the following are greatly appreciated:
Fiction books
Fiction books are a great choice! Through fiction books, kids can explore fantasy worlds and live through exciting adventures alongside their favorite characters.
Good fiction books to donate to young children are fairytale and folklore books, poetry books, and novels.
Non-Fiction Books
Non-fiction books like encyclopedias are great for any age. Children can learn about the world we live in and its wonders and become more curious and analytically oriented. Historical books or biographies can also help children find positive role models to look up to.
Learning materials
If you have any textbooks and foreign language learning materials, we’ll help you find a new home.
When you donate textbooks, make sure to check the date of publication. If they are over 3-4 years old, they are likely to contain out-of-date information.
Manga and graphic novels
Manga (Japanese Comics) and graphic novels are the perfect gateway into reading more. They combine drawings with limited dialogue, making the plot more engaging and easy to follow.
If you want to donate manga to a local school library, we recommend checking the age limit first. Despite the playful appearance, not all manga is suited for children.
Diverse books
Having a diverse pool of authors and diverse characters in a school library can go a long way in children’s development. No matter if you are donating fiction novels, poetry, or children’s books, inclusive books will help foster a welcoming environment for children from all backgrounds.
Feel free to also donate any dyslexia-friendly books or books written in braille, as these are quite rare in most school libraries.
3 Tips on How to Prepare for a Donation
Here are a few do’s and don’ts on how to donate books to a school library:
Donate books that are in good shape
Make sure that none of the books you are giving away have ripped pages or scribbles inside. Always ask yourself: would you appreciate a gift in the same condition? If the answer is no, then you shouldn’t donate it either.
Check the age limit
In the app, you can see the age preferences for each school, so have a look at the app before you choose which books to donate.
Pack things orderly
If you are donating books from multiple categories, packing them in an organized fashion (e.g. by genre or by age group) will help your school catalogue them better.
Sign up on Books2all today and give your old books a new home!