books · Nova Scotia

Where to donate books, records and media in Halifax

5 organizations in and around Halifax that take donated books — what each one accepts, what it turns away, and which will come and collect it.

Verified 2026-09-24 from each organization's own website. We are not affiliated with anyone listed here, nobody pays to be included, and we receive nothing if you donate to them.

How to tell what you have got

Before you call anyone, two minutes with the object settles most of it. None of this needs an expert — it needs a flashlight and a look at the back.

  • LPs in almost any genre except classical, opera and overstocked easy listeningLook up the exact pressing's completed sales on Discogs, not its asking prices. Audiopile says it reads the median price rather than the highest, also looks at the "Wants" count to judge sellability, and warns that online prices do not necessarily reflect the local market. Pressing origin matters — it pays more for Japanese, UK and other imports — so read the catalogue and matrix numbers on the label and in the run-out groove, not just the artist.
  • Records you were about to throw out because they look roughPut the visibly damaged records in a separate box and take them along anyway rather than sorting them into the bin.
  • Antiquarian books, modern firsts, fine bindings and local historyLook for a dust jacket present and intact, a date on the title page matching the copyright page with no later printing line, and an author signature. With none of those it is probably an ordinary secondhand book — but anything pre-1900, finely bound, or local history should be seen by a dealer before you decide.
  • Books published in the last five years, and classics in new editionsCheck the copyright page. If the newest date is more than five years old and the book is nonfiction, Halifax is not the stop for it — and its cap is 20 items per household in any case.
  • Children's and teen books printed since 2000, in gift conditionIt specifically wants board and baby books, preschool titles, popular series, graphic novels, non-fiction on nature, animals and space, and books with diverse characters. Its refusal list is short and exact: textbooks, encyclopedias, workbooks, library books, self-published books and damaged books.
  • CDs with no scratches, with their original linersA disc in a wallet or binder that still has its liner meets Halifax's rule. Discs stripped of their artwork are the hard ones to place.
  • Cassettes, where they are collectible rather than commonAudiopile's distinction is between common commercial tapes and collectible ones; a tape recorded or dubbed at home is neither. Sealed or small-run commercial releases are the ones worth asking about.

What this list turns away

Counted from what each place says on its own site, not from what is generally true. Most refusals are about condition and completeness rather than category.

  • 3 of 5 will not take mattresses and box springsMission Thrift Store Halifax, Salvation Army Thrift Store, Value Village Community Donation Centre
  • 3 of 5 will not take hazardous materialMission Thrift Store Halifax, Salvation Army Thrift Store, Value Village Community Donation Centre
  • 3 of 5 will not take car seats and cribsMission Thrift Store Halifax, Salvation Army Thrift Store, Value Village Community Donation Centre
  • 3 of 5 will not take anything damaged or stainedHalifax Public Libraries, Mission Thrift Store Halifax, Value Village Community Donation Centre
  • 2 of 5 will not take large appliancesMission Thrift Store Halifax, Salvation Army Thrift Store

Rarely worth anything

Not a rule, and not a reason to bin something without asking. These are the things people most often expect to be worth money and find are not.

  • General mass-market paperbacks
  • Reader's Digest Condensed Books and other book-club condensed editions
  • Encyclopedia sets
  • Ex-library books and library discards
  • Outdated textbooks and computer manuals
  • Travel guides
  • Magazines, including long runs of National Geographic
  • Classical and opera LPs
  • Easy-listening and middle-of-the-road LPs
  • VHS tapes and ordinary audio cassettes
  • Used DVDs and Blu-rays, as a sale
  • Anything mouldy, musty, water-damaged, yellowed or heavily highlighted
  • Self-published books and workbooks
  • Hardcovers and spiral-bound books, as a prison donation
Prison book programs take softcovers only, and screen the content Canada — correctional institutions, via Books to Prisoners BC (Vancouver)

Books to Prisoners BC says that most prisons in Canada do not accept hardcover books, so it prefers that you do not donate them; it adds that hardcovers weigh more and cost more to ship. Spiral-bound books are also on its not-accepted list, along with damaged books, pornography, anything explaining how to immobilize a person, Canadian true crime about people currently incarcerated, and books critical of Canadian police and prison systems. Do not mail books to a prisoner directly on the assumption they will arrive.

Read the rule →
Hardcover books must be taken apart before the parts go in the carts City of Calgary, Alberta

Calgary instructs residents to remove cardboard hard covers and spines and recycle them as separate items from the pages, and to put coverless and loose pages into the recycling. Leather, canvas and plastic book covers go in the black cart as garbage. Old and unusable paper books may go in the blue cart or a community recycling depot.

Read the rule →
Discs and tapes that cannot be reused are garbage; only the paper parts are recyclable City of Calgary, Alberta

Calgary directs old and broken discs and tapes — vinyl records, CDs, DVDs and video tapes — to the black cart as garbage, while paper covers, music liners and record sleeves go in the blue cart. Its first advice is to pass usable media on to family and friends, sell it, or donate it to a local charity.

Read the rule →
Tapes, CDs, DVDs and records that cannot be reused go in the garbage; cases and inserts go in recycling Peel Region (Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon), Ontario

Peel Region states that video and audio tapes, CDs, DVDs and records that cannot be re-used may be placed in the garbage for disposal, and that empty cassette or video boxes, printed paper sleeves and inserts go in the recycling cart or a clear or blue transparent plastic bag. Reusable items in good condition may be donated at some Community Recycling Centre locations, where staff have the right to refuse items on inspection.

Read the rule →
Cassettes, CDs and DVDs are not accepted in the Blue Bin City of Toronto, Ontario

Toronto's Blue Bin page names cassettes, CDs and DVDs under other plastics that do not belong in the bin. Books are not listed on either the accepted or the not-accepted side — they appear only in a photo caption of paper items — and the page tells residents to check the Waste Wizard tool when they are unsure, which is the only authoritative answer for books in Toronto.

Read the rule →

5 places in Halifax that take books

EPRA Nova Scotia (Recycle My Electronics)

Drop off only
TakesDesktop and portable computers, computer peripherals, external storage drives and modems, scanners, Desktop printers and multi-function devices, Display devices, Home audio/video systems, personal/portable audio/video systems, home-theatre-in-a-box systems, Aftermarket vehicle audio/video systems and aftermarket/portable GPS, Electronic readers and video game devices, Corded and cordless telephones, answering machines, cellular phones, smartphones, PDAs and pagers, Countertop cooking appliances and microwave ovens, Personal care appliances, garment care appliances, floor or carpet care appliances, Air-treatment appliances, Devices for measuring time and weight scales
Won't takeAir conditioners, Dehumidifiers
CollectionResidents drop off at a collection site or participating retail partner. The "Book My Pick Up" link on their site sits under their Business section, not residential. I could NOT confirm on their site that residential drop-off is free of charge — do not print a fee claim either way.
WhereMany approved drop-off locations across Nova Scotia — link to the "Where Can I Recycle?" locator at recyclemyelectronics.ca/ns/where-can-i-recycle/ rather than naming sites. They describe themselves as "an industry-led, not-for-profit organization that operates regulated recycling programs across Canada."
A regulated recycling program, not a charity. Electronics are dismantled and recycled, not reused.
Visit their site →

Halifax Public Libraries

Drop off only
TakesRecent bestsellers and books in any language published in the last 5 years, Classics in new editions, Local history titles, DVDs, Blu-rays and music CDs — must have their original liners, Musical instruments — strings, keyboards and hand drums only
Won't takeItems that are out-of-date or soon to be — older computer models, VHS tapes and cassettes, magazines, textbooks, travel guides, Low-demand items such as encyclopedias and Reader's Digest Condensed Books, Damaged items, Items already well-stocked in their collection, More than 20 items per household — "Because of storage space, we will accept a maximum of 20 items per household"
CollectionDrop off at any branch; no collection service. Two things people get caught by: "The Library is unable to return donations" and "We don't provide tax receipts for books and other donated items."
WhereDrop off at any branch across Halifax Regional Municipality — link to their branch list at halifax.bibliocommons.com/locations rather than naming branches.
Visit their site →

Mission Thrift Store Halifax

Will collect, conditions apply
TakesGently used clothing, Designer labels, Housewares & linens, Furniture, Books, Toys & games, Hardware & tools, Sports equipment, Electronics & gadgets, Jewellery, Antiques & collectibles, Pet supplies
Won't takeFood, Damaged furniture, Animals, Hazardous materials (e.g. batteries, paints, cleaning products), Automobile parts, Large appliances, Flammable products (e.g. gas, cans, torches), Construction materials, Mattresses, Infant products (e.g. car seats, cribs), Swing sets, Marine vessels (e.g. boats, canoes, kayaks)
CollectionThe chain's donate page says pickup is "Not available for every location, please check if you can get a pick-up near you." Their own store finder tags the Halifax store with "Offers Pickup" — but no fee, service area or booking method is published for this store, so call (902) 461-2364 to arrange it.
Where31 Temple Terrace, Lower Sackville, NS B4C 0A7
Visit their site →(902) 461-2364

Salvation Army Thrift Store

Drop off only
TakesClothing & linens, Footwear, Accessories, Housewares & small appliances, Computers & electronics, Books & media, Toys, Antiques & collectibles, Valuables
Won't takeFurniture, Beds, mattresses & boxsprings, Large appliances, Construction materials, Automobile parts & tires, Infant equipment (car seats, cribs, strollers), Paint & flammable/hazardous materials (e.g. torches, propane tanks), Pianos
CollectionStated verbatim on their donation page: "Please note: We are unable to offer donation pick-up services." Everything must be brought to a Thrift Store or Donor Welcome Centre.
Where190 locations Canada-wide. Five are in the Halifax area, all confirmed on their own store finder at thriftstore.ca/locations: Strawberry Hill Thrift Store, 3667 Strawberry Hill Street, Halifax B3K 5A8; Lake City Thrift Store, 125 Main Street, Dartmouth B2X 1R6; Cole Harbour Thrift Store, 971 Cole Harbour Rd, Dartmouth B2V 1E8; Bedford Commons Thrift Store, Suite 101 – 205 Damascus Road, Bedford B4A 0C2; and the Halifax Donor Welcome Centre, Unit 9 – 65 John Savage Ave, Dartmouth B3B 2C9. Check current hours per store on the finder.
Visit their site →1-855-984-8378

Value Village Community Donation Centre

Drop off only
TakesBackpacks & purses, Bed & bath, Books & media, Clothing & shoes, Electronics, Exercise & sporting goods, Games & toys, Housewares, Small appliances, Small furniture
Won't takeAppliances (large), Automobile parts, Construction materials, Damaged furniture, Flammable & hazardous materials, Food, Infant products, Mattresses, Swimming pools, TV & computer monitors, Weapons, Money
CollectionTheir donation page describes drop-off at a Community Donation Centre only and offers no home collection. Their own warnings: "Please donate when the centre is open. Leaving donations when the centre is closed is illegal," and attendants "may politely decline items we are unable to accept on behalf of local nonprofits." They suggest donating mornings or weekdays to avoid lines, and bagging or boxing donations.
WhereTwo Community Donation Centres in the Halifax area — Halifax (Bayers Lake) and Bedford (Bedford Commons). Those two are named on Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Halifax's own donation page. Value Village's store finder would not render, so I could not confirm street addresses, phone numbers or hours: link readers to the finder at valuevillage.ca rather than printing an address.
A for-profit retailer, not a charity. It pays a nonprofit partner for donated goods — the partner differs by store, so ask at the door if that matters to you.
Visit their site →

Not sure what you have got?

Photograph it and we will tell you what it is and what it is worth — including when the honest answer is that it is worth nothing.

See what it's worth Sell it instead → Everything in Halifax →

Other things in Halifax

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