Guidelines for Donating New Children's Books
We appreciate your interest in donating books to Room to Read. One of the main reasons our organization has been able to impact so many children's lives is because of the generous involvement and support from people like you. The following are some general guidelines for collecting new children's books for our program.
NOTE: Room to Read does not accept used book donations. After reviewing our individual book donation program, we found that it actually costs Room to Read more time and money to sort and ship the donated books than to ship new books donated directly by children's book publishers or to buy new books within our partner countries.
The following types of books are much-needed in the countries where we operate:
- Simple children's storybooks (think Clifford the Big Red Dog or Hop on Pop).
- ABC and 123 books, or anything suitable to teaching young children the English language.
- Picture books for young children who can't yet read.
- Hardcover books that are thick and durable.
- Educational books that are fun - science, geography, math, world history, etc.
- Easy beginner's novels for older children (but remember English is their second language).
Certain materials and subjects are NOT accepted by Room to Read, including:
- Culturally-sensitive material (examples would include materialism, books about sports cars, single parent families, and other things that are issues in the US, but not in Nepal, Cambodia or Vietnam).
- Religious books (we are non-denominational, and do not promote any religion)
- Books not appropriate for young children.
- All books printed in any language other than English.
- Fiction such as "dime-store" novels, mysteries, romance.
- Journals and magazines.
- Textbooks
- Supplementary materials such as: Lab Manuals, Study Guides, Teacher's Editions, and Workbooks.
How Can You Help?
We seek donations of new children's books from publishers and bookstores as long as they meet these basic guidelines. For additional information about this program, please email gifts.in.kind@roomtoread.org.
