Where to Donate Books Brisbane?

Many books end up as landfill waste each year and produce environmental pollution. Book production requires substantial resources, including paper from trees, printing and transportation energy, and ink chemicals. Through book donations, you take the initiative to protect the environment and lower the demand for new resources. Your book donation helps create a sustainable pattern by enabling materials to be reused.

There are many pathways to get rid of old books and donate cherished literature titles to the community. Local educational institutions and charities in Brisbane accept book donations from contributors. The books you donate support struggling families while enabling people in need to foster literacy by accessing second-hand materials.

We will help you ease the steps required to donate your books. Find out exactly where to donate books in Brisbane, including the best times and methods for your second-hand book donations.

Related: Where to Donate Furniture Brisbane

Where to Donate Books in Brisbane

In today’s economy ad rising cost of living in Brisbane, the simple joy of a new book is out of reach for many. That’s why your generosity can make a profound difference. If you have books to spare, now is the perfect time to share the gift of reading.

Looking for where to donate books in Brisbane? We have gathered a comprehensive list of necessary information regarding book donations in Brisbane from organisations supporting children to those focused on mental health.

You can also check our Where to Donate Books in Sydney guide.

Save the Children has a strong presence in Brisbane, working to improve the lives of children in Queensland and supporting its global efforts. While its direct program delivery in Brisbane might focus on specific areas like early childhood education or family support, it also operates several second-hand book shops across the city.

These op shops in Brisbane are crucial for fundraising. By selling donated goods, including books, clothing, and homewares, they generate vital funds that directly support Save the Children’s programs in Australia and internationally.

• Donation Type: Drop off at local Save The Children op shops.
• Location: Multiple locations around Brisbane.
• Accepted Books: Books in good condition
• Website: Save the Children

The Salvation Army is one of the key charities in Brisbane that provides vital assistance to the community. They offer a way to donate books in Brisbane. When considering “where to donate books in Brisbane,” remember that dropping off your secondhand books at their secondhand book shops contributes to their wider mission.

• Donation Type: Direct to the store during business hours.
• Location: Multiple locations around Brisbane.
• Accepted Books: Any books in good condition
• Website: The Salvation Army

The establishment of Street Libraries promotes reading interests while connecting people within their communities through multiple channels. People can participate in the “take a book, leave a book” system that provides reading access to all. This accessibility is particularly helpful for those seeking ‘Where can I donate books?’ as Street Libraries often rely on book donations to stock their shelves.

They act as miniature second-hand book shops in Brisbane in a community setting, promoting the reuse of books and offering a free source of reading material. While not a traditional charity in Brisbane, they create wellness within neighbourhoods by joining people into bonds by appreciating reading together.

• Donation Type: Donate books straight into your local street library cupboard.
• Location: Over 300 registered street libraries in Brisbane alone.
• Accepted Books: Anything suitable for local community families.
• Website: Street Libraries

Brisbane City Council’s Treasure Troves are second-hand book shops the Endeavour Foundation runs. They offer a wide selection of affordable second-hand books in Brisbane. While you can’t directly donate books at these stores, they benefit from quality book donations from Brisbane City Council’s Resource Recovery Centres.

• Donation Type: Drop off at the resource recovery centres.
• Location: Four resource recovery centres are at Willawong, Chandler, Ferny Grove and Nudgee.
• Accepted Books: Any books that are in good, clean condition.
• Website: Brisbane City Council Treasure Troves

Local schools often welcome book donations to build their libraries. If you’re looking for a place to donate books in Brisbane, contact your nearby schools directly.

Donating books to schools directly supports local literacy and provides students with more reading options. Your book donation enriches children’s education and is a great way to “how to get rid of old books” locally. Arrange a book drop-off with the school for a direct community impact.

• Donation Type: Drop off to the school
• Location: Find your local school location here.
• Accepted Books: Call your local school to ask what books they may like provided. Age-appropriate books.

While the Queensland Children’s Hospital Foundation doesn’t typically accept direct donations of secondhand books in Brisbane for resale like a secondhand bookshop, it does value items that can directly benefit the children and their families staying at the hospital.

If you’re looking to donate books to the Children’s Hospital Foundation, it’s best to check their website or contact them directly to enquire about their current needs and donation guidelines. They might accept new books for the children to enjoy during their stay or for special events.

• Donation Type: Drop it off directly at the hospital.
• Location: Level 2, Queensland Children’s Hospital, 199 Grey Street, South Brisbane
• Accepted Books: Due to health regulations, books donated must be new. In particular, they always need colour-in books. They also have a Wishlist.
• Website: Children’s Hospital Foundation

The New Farm Neighbourhood Centre is a valuable community hub in Brisbane that supports the local area through various programs and services. They accept book donations directly at their centre. This is a great option if you’re looking for where to donate books in Brisbane and want to support a local initiative that directly benefits the New Farm community.

By donating books to the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre, you’re helping it offer resources and support to residents. The centre welcomes good-quality second-hand books, which can be available to the community through various means.

• Donation Type: Drop off at the centre.
• Location: 967 Brunswick St, New Farm
• Accepted Books: All good quality books.
• Website: New Farm Neighbourhood Centre

The North West Brisbane Community Hub is a local centre that supports the community. It accepts donations of goods, including book donations. Contacting the Hub directly is a good way to enquire about their current needs and how best to make your book donation.

• Donation Type: Drop it off directly at the centre.
• Location: 180 Jubilee Tce, Bardon
• Accepted Books: All good quality books.
• Website: North West Community Hub

Lifeline and their Lifeline Bookfest are key players in book donations in Brisbane. Lifeline offers several convenient options. You can drop off your quality second-hand books year-round at their various Lifeline op shops. These shops act as collection points, and selling your donated books helps fund Lifeline’s vital crisis support and suicide prevention services.

• Donation Type: Drop it off at the Lifeline store. Pick-up is available if you have a large number of books.
• Location: Many op shop locations around Brisbane. The Brisbane Bookfest is located at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane
• Accepted Books: All books in good condition are accepted.
• Website: Lifeline Qld

The Australian Red Cross is another prominent charity in Brisbane that provides crucial support to communities. While it may not be primarily known as a place for book donations in Brisbane in the same way as Lifeline or dedicated second-hand book shops, it does accept donations of goods at its Red Cross Shops.

• Donation Type: Over the counter at any Red Cross Shop during trading hours or in the specially marked charity bins in-store.
• Location: Multiple locations around Brisbane.
• Accepted Books: Any good quality books that are clean and reusable.
• Website: Australian Red Cross

Brothers N’ Books maintains its position as a distinguished charity in Brisbane because it uses reading to treat mental health issues, a concept aptly termed bibliotherapy. This organisation maintains free community reading libraries and an online resource of recommended reading lists to promote mental welfare among its users.

• Donation Type: Drop off.
• Location: Cystic Fibrosis Queensland Bookshop, 3/160 Ryans Rd, Nundah | Wounded Heroes Australia, 41A Brisbane Rd, Bundamba.
• Accepted Books: Any fiction or nonfiction.
• Website: Brothers and Books

The St Vincent de Paul Society, often known as Vinnies, is a well-respected charity in Brisbane where you can donate books and other goods. Their numerous Vinnies Shops function as second-hand book shops (among other things), accepting donations of quality second-hand books. If you’re looking for where to donate books in Brisbane, your local Vinnies Shop is a convenient option for a book drop-off.

• Donation Type: Donate directly to local stores.
• Location: Many locations around Brisbane.
• Accepted Books: All good quality books.
• Website: St Vincent De Paul Society

The Care Kits for Kids organisation aids children in difficult circumstances by delivering two-day supplies containing necessary items. The kits provide clothing, personal care products, learning materials, and books.

• Donation Type: Drop off.
• Location: Numerous drop-off points around Brisbane.
• Accepted Books: Books for kids aged 0-16 (especially teen fiction) must be in excellent condition, with unused colouring and activity books.
• Website: Care Kits for Kids

Operating for over two decades, PNG Books 4 Kids has significantly impacted by delivering over 4.5 million books from Australia to Papua New Guinea. This charity supports children’s education in PNG by providing English language books to over 400 schools. This helps them learn English and develop a passion for reading.

• Donation Type: Drop it off in the book bin.
• Location: Multiple locations (listed on the website).
• Accepted Books: Early Readers, primary school fiction and nonfiction, atlases, dictionaries, thesauruses, bibles.
• Website: Books for PNG Kids

Tips for Preparing Books for Donation

Preparing your donated books through these basic steps makes it possible for them to enter Brisbane homes easily, where they will quickly find new readers. Here are tips that will help you prepare books for donation:

How to Sort and Clean Your Books

Thoroughly check your entire collection before commencing with packing procedures. Be honest with yourself about the condition of each book:

• Identify Donate-Worthy Books: Search for donation-quality books. An intact spine, complete pages, and not excessively damaged covers are essential for acceptable book donation.
• Set Aside Unsuitable Books: Exclude severely damaged, outdated (encyclopaedias or textbooks) or heavily annotated books. Consider local council recycling options for paper waste in Brisbane.
• Give Them a Clean: Use a dry or slightly damp soft cloth to clean the covers and spines of your suitable donation books so you can remove dust and surface dust. Pack your books only after they are totally dry.

Organising by Category or Condition

Organising your books can significantly help the receiving organisation or individuals:

• Categorise by Genre: Large book donations should be arranged by genre. Local libraries, schools and charities operating in Brisbane benefit from this method because it facilitates their sorting and distribution process.
• Separate by Age Group: Distribute children’s books based on their age-appropriate ranges. Children’s charities and Brisbane schools benefit the most when books are sorted in this manner.
• Group by Condition (Optional): A combination of box labels can designate groups containing new items and items in okay condition.

Creative Ways to Share the Literary Love in Brisbane

While donating books to established charities is a fantastic way to give books a second life, you can find multiple options to give books a second life in Brisbane and share them with the community.

Book Swaps and Community Events

The warm community atmosphere in Brisbane is perfect for local book-swapping activities. Look for community-based events such as markets or park and cafe get-togethers that operate book swap programs. These events create an exceptional chance for people to:

• Discover New Reads: Use your completed books to obtain exciting new titles to enlarge your reading selection without any financial cost.
• Connect with Fellow Bookworms: Talk about your favourite writers and reading categories when you meet Brisbane locals who are fellow book lovers.
• Build Community: The group activities create community bonds because people find common points of interest with their neighbours.

Online Groups

Brisbane’s online community provides convenient platforms for sharing books directly with others.

Facebook Marketplace is great for obtaining books for free or at minimal prices. Your listing should target specific geographic locations and find users who want specific genres or titles.

Selling and Donating Proceeds

Individuals who possess rare books can generate funds by selling them and donating the collected money to their favourite charity in Brisbane.

Support foundation groups that focus on essential matters of the Brisbane community, including social welfare and environmental conservation initiatives.

Ensure that books with market value contribute financially to a good cause.

Let Your Books Write New Stories Across Brisbane

Donating your pre-loved books in Brisbane isn’t just about clearing and decluttering your space; it’s about investing in our community’s future, fostering literacy, and giving resources to those who need them most. Every book you pass on uniquely motivates reading interest, teaches essential wisdom, or offers a comforting escape to someone new in Brisbane. Whether you’re downsizing, spring cleaning, or preparing for a move, passing on your gently used books can make a real difference.

We wholeheartedly encourage you to take action today. Look around your home. Have you observed books sitting idle on your shelf that you have finished reading and waiting to be turned over to other readers? Each contribution to our Brisbane community through book donations will benefit individuals who read.

And if you’re in the middle of a relocation, Moving Mates is here to help. As a trusted Brisbane moving company, we don’t just move boxes—we support your transition every step of the way, including helping you manage donations. Let us take the stress out of your move while you focus on doing good. Contact us today to schedule your move and donate your books with ease.