books · British Columbia

Where to donate books, records and media in Vancouver

9 organizations in and around Vancouver 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.

  • 4 of 9 will not take mattresses and box springsBC SPCA Thrift Stores, Community Thrift Store (Surrey Hospice Society & Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society), HomeStart Foundation, The Salvation Army Thrift Store (National Recycling Operations)
  • 4 of 9 will not take large appliancesCommunity Thrift Store (Surrey Hospice Society & Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society), HomeStart Foundation, The Salvation Army Thrift Store (National Recycling Operations), Union Gospel Mission (UGM)
  • 3 of 9 will not take encyclopedias and textbooksCommunity Thrift Store (Surrey Hospice Society & Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society), Friends of the Vancouver Public Library, Union Gospel Mission (UGM)
  • 3 of 9 will not take car seats and cribsCommunity Thrift Store (Surrey Hospice Society & Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society), MCC Thrift Shop Surrey, The Salvation Army Thrift Store (National Recycling Operations)
  • 3 of 9 will not take anything damaged or stainedBC SPCA Thrift Stores, Friends of the Vancouver Public Library, MCC Thrift Shop Surrey

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 →

9 places in Vancouver that take books

BC SPCA Thrift Stores

Not stated - ask them
TakesClothing and accessories, Housewares and kitchen items, Books, media and toys, Small furniture items, Home decor, Seasonal items, Electronics in working condition
Won't takeBroken or unsafe items, Mattresses or heavily damaged furniture, Hazardous materials, Recalled products, Soiled or heavily worn items, Anything restricted by health or safety regulations
CollectionNo pickup service is mentioned anywhere on their thrift store page. Their own instruction: "Because donation needs, storage space and staffing can vary by location, please call ahead before bringing items to a Thrift Store location." They also ask that items not be left outside locations after hours.
WhereEleven BC SPCA thrift stores province-wide. The Metro Vancouver ones are Vancouver (East), Vancouver (West), North Vancouver, New Westminster, Richmond and Surrey. Each store has its own phone number - get it from the list at spca.bc.ca/thrift-stores and call that store, not a central line.
Visit their site →

Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver

Will collect, free
TakesClothing, all sizes, Accessories - shoes, belts, hats, purses, Books, Toys and games, Kitchenware, Small appliances, Electronics - phones, tablets, speakers, Sports equipment, Household linens and bedding
Won't takeNo refusal list is published on their donation page
CollectionTheir page states: "Free service available for clothing, books, and small household goods. Book a pickup online or call 604.526.2447." Note the pickup is limited to clothing, books and small household goods - not furniture. Bagging/labelling instructions and a pickup time were not confirmed on the page read.
WhereDonation bins and drop-off points across the Lower Mainland - use the donation bin map on their site rather than assuming a count. They are also the paid nonprofit partner at the Savers/Value Village Community Donation Centre at 6415 Victoria Dr, Vancouver.
Visit their site →604-526-2447

Community Thrift Store (Surrey Hospice Society & Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society)

Drop off only
TakesGently-used clothing, Shoes, boots, purses, bags, Books, DVDs, videos, records, Jewelry, china, vases, cookware, lamps, Small kitchen appliances such as toasters, crock pots, kettles, Ornaments, knickknacks, silk flowers, collectibles, artwork, Linen, towels, decorative pillows, pictures, mirrors, Greeting cards, wrapping paper, stationery
Won't takeMattresses, bed frames and large furniture, Large appliances, Baby furniture, cribs and car seats, Exercise and sports-related equipment, Board games, Blinds, curtain rods, large area rugs, Hard-wired lights, National Geographic and school textbooks, Computers, printers, TVs and microwaves - see note, their page contradicts itself on these
CollectionNo pickup service is mentioned. Drop-off at the store or at donation bins located at Surrey fire halls.
Where7138 King George Blvd, Surrey, BC V3W 5A3
Visit their site →

Electronic Recycling Association (ERA)

Will collect, conditions apply
TakesLaptops, Desktop computers, Monitors, Servers, Printers, Cell phones, Tablets, TVs, Other unwanted electronic devices, Media - hard drives, tapes, floppy discs, CDs
Won't takeNo refusal list is published
CollectionPickup is offered but is NOT automatically free. Their page: pickup charges are "based on location, the number of items, service requirements, etc.", and may be waived during promotions or for members and high-value donations. Dropping standard computer equipment at the Richmond depot is typically free, but processing fees apply to TVs, microwaves and floor-model copiers and printers. Data destruction is quoted at $0.00-$5.00 per item depending on the equipment donated. Get a quote before loading a vehicle.
WhereUnit 1045 - 11111 Twigg Place, Richmond, BC V6V 3C9
Visit their site →604-215-4483

Friends of the Vancouver Public Library

Drop off only
TakesBooks in English or French, in good condition, CDs and LPs in good condition, playable and in their original cover, DVDs, Region 1, playable and in their original cover, Advance reading copies
Won't takeMaterials unfit for sale or damaged, Stained, water-damaged, mouldy or dusty items, Ripped, missing pages, highlighted or annotated, Strong odours such as smoke or cigarette, Pests or signs of pest infestation, Foreign-language books other than English and French, VHS tapes and cassettes, Textbooks, Encyclopedias, Magazines, Spiral-bound materials, Stationery
CollectionNo pickup service is mentioned. Small donations of up to three boxes of books can be brought in year-round. Larger volumes are only taken at the special book donation drives listed on their events page.
WhereDrop off at book'mark, the Library Store. Email friends@friendsoftheVPL.ca before bringing a large quantity.
Visit their site →604-331-4036

HomeStart Foundation

TakesNight tables and dressers, Kitchen and dining tables, Chairs and sofas under 80 inches long, Armchairs, Coffee tables, Bookcases, TVs under 5 years old, and radios, Computer desks, Microwaves, Telephones and lamps, Rugs
Won't takeBeds - frames, mattresses, box springs, headboards, Sofa beds and futons, Recliner couches, Large exercise equipment, Oversized office furniture, Entertainment units, China cabinets, Large appliances - stoves, washers, dryers, fridges, Hard-wired lighting fixtures
CollectionPickup for a minimum $100 donation. Drivers accept cash, cheque or credit card, or you can donate online in advance. Service area as written on their page: "Vancouver, Burnaby (west of Royal Oak) and Richmond". Book by emailing coordinator@homestart.ca to arrange pickup days and times. Note: pickup days/hours and a same-day policy were NOT found on the page read - do not publish specific hours.
WhereNo public warehouse address; arrange by email at coordinator@homestart.ca. Charitable registration 872814504RR0001. No phone number appears on their donations page - do not publish one.
Visit their site →

MCC Thrift Shop Surrey

Drop off only
TakesSmall appliances - coffee makers, kettles, microwaves, crockpots, mixers, blenders, steamers, toasters, Housewares, Gently used clothing, Linens, Puzzles and games, Decorative items and home decor, Books, Electronics, Jewellery
Won't takeAny furniture, Baby items - car seats, booster seats, strollers, baby gates, Toys and stuffed animals, Damaged textiles, Helmets
CollectionNo pickup service is mentioned anywhere on their site, and they refuse furniture outright. Third-party directories claiming MCC Surrey collects furniture and large appliances across Surrey, White Rock, North Delta, Cloverdale and Langley are NOT supported by their own site - phone 604-583-0465 before relying on that.
Where10653 King George Hwy, Surrey, BC
Visit their site →604-583-0465

The Salvation Army Thrift Store (National Recycling Operations)

Drop off only
TakesClothing and linens, Footwear, Accessories, Housewares and small appliances, Books and media, Computers and electronics, Toys, Antiques and collectibles, Valuables
Won't takeFurniture, Beds, mattresses and box springs, Large appliances, Automobile parts and tires, Construction materials, Infant equipment - car seats, cribs, strollers, Paint and flammable/hazardous materials
CollectionTheir own page states plainly: "We are unable to offer donation pick-up services." Drop-off only.
WhereTheir page says "over 120 locations across Canada" - it does NOT give a Metro Vancouver count. Use the store finder at thriftstore.ca to find the nearest one.
Visit their site →1-855-984-8378

Union Gospel Mission (UGM)

Will collect, conditions apply
TakesWeather-appropriate clothing - shirts, sweatshirts, fleece, shorts, pants, jeans, jackets, coats (larger sizes preferred), Socks and underwear, new and unused only, Shoes - sandals, sneakers, boots, work boots, Bags, belts, cold and hot weather accessories, Linens, Pillows and cushions, new and unused only, Small appliances, lamps, knick-knacks, decorations, pictures, wall decor, Small furniture - night tables, coffee tables, small dressers, small bookcases, small dining tables with up to 4 chairs, accent chairs, Books (no textbooks or encyclopedias), Children's toys, new and unused only, Small musical instruments, New, unopened hygiene items, sleeping bags, emergency blankets, rain ponchos, reusable water bottles
Won't takeUsed socks and underwear, Used pillows and cushions, Used children's toys, Baby and children's gear, Large furniture and large appliances, Tools, Fitness equipment, Bicycles, Pianos, organs and record players, Textbooks and encyclopedias, Technology more than 10 years old, Bulk garage-sale or church-sale lots
CollectionTheir page states: "Due to capacity, we are not able to fulfill every request for donation pick-ups." Requests go through the donation coordination form on that page. A pickup is not guaranteed and no terms, area or fee are published.
WhereFour drop-off points, all listed on ugm.ca/donation-items: UGM Distribution Centre, 8346 St. George St, Vancouver V5X 3S7, Mon-Fri 9am-4pm; UGM Vancouver reception, 601 E. Hastings St, 604-253-3323, 8am-7pm daily; UGM Thrift Store, 671 E. Hastings St, 604-254-8721, Mon-Fri 9:30am-4pm; Found Thrift Boutique, 641 Columbia St, New Westminster, 604-553-0604, Mon-Sat 10:30am-5:30pm. Tax receipts via Donor Relations, 778-731-1611.
Visit their site →604-253-3323

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.

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Other things in Vancouver

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Books in other cities

Calgary6 placesEdmonton3 placesHalifax5 placesHamilton5 placesKitchener–Waterloo5 placesLondon4 placesMontréal5 placesOttawa5 placesQuébec City6 placesSaskatoon5 placesToronto5 placesVictoria3 placesWinnipeg5 places