Why should I use the Discards & Donations service for Libraries?

We get more “bang for the book” and we donate a book for each one sold. We upload and closely monitor your books on over 30 marketplaces, thus maximizing the chances of selling the books at the best price. To date we have sold over 75 million books for our clients. Leave the book selling to us and you’ll have more time to spend around the library, in the community or at home.

What does the Discards & Donations for Libraries service cost?

Nothing! We often hear that our service is “too good to be true.” There are no service fees, sign-up fees, monthly fees or one-time fees. In addition, we cover the cost of collection as part of our free service.

How does the payment system work?

Your library and literacy partner may earn a percentage of net sales. Payment options include BetterWorldBooks.com credit, a check, or a credit to your library’s Deposit Account with Baker & Taylor, collectionHQ or Ingram.

What material guidelines must we follow?

Clients must follow our material guidelines to determine what to send or what to recycle locally.

No shipping costs? Really?

Yes, there are no shipping costs to your library. We take tremendous pride in being able to offer our free service. Using the Client Portal, you can login and easily schedule and ship your fully packed cartons.

Are books ever thrown away?

NEVER. We determine where the books will be best used. Books are either sold, donated or recycled.

What if local government regulations prohibit the sale of materials?

Better World Books understands that many local jurisdictions have regulations regarding the sale of discarded books but even in those jurisdictions we may very well still be able to work with your library.

What is the Prescreen Tool? Is it required?

The Prescreen Tool, which can be found in the Client Portal, allows you to check whether or not your books should be sent to Better World Books by scanning the ISBN bar code on a book. Some libraries use the tool to increase their income potential. Usage requirements vary based on your library’s circumstances.

If I work with you can I still run my local book sale

Of course. Books declined by our Prescreen Tool are usually great for local book sales. This is a great way to get the best value from your discarded and donated materials.

About Updated Terms

Better World Books has modified its terms to explain its business model better. On occasion, there has been some confusion about the role Better World Books plays in acquiring books and creating a market for them (or donating them to worthy recipients in line with our social mission). We now are trying to do a better job explaining ourselves. This should be clear: when Better World Books acquires books, it takes ownership of them (“title” to them, in legal terminology) and then resells them to the public or donates them to charitable organizations. When it resells the books or donates them, ownership passes from Better World Books to the buyer or the recipient. We know that there have been some inconsistent references on our website, for example that ownership of a book remained with the supplier or donor of a book until we found a buyer or recipient. We are now going through our website to revise it and eliminate any confusion over this issue. If you encounter those inconsistent statements, please remember that they are outdated: that this announcement regarding Better World Books’ ownership of and title to the books supersedes any inconsistent provisions on the website. Better World Books appreciates your patience while it is updating its website.