Donate Books
Chances are, you either have children’s books you aren’t using or know someone who does. Please consider donating them to Bernie’s Book Bank.
BOOKS WE USE
- We accept new and gently used children’s books (birth-6th grade reading level). This includes fiction and non-fiction titles, such as picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, mysteries, biographies, science fiction, sports, science, technology and more.
BOOKS WE DON’T USE
- Textbooks
- Dictionaries
- Activity books
- Coloring books
- Reference material
- Religious books
WHERE TO DONATE BOOKS
- Bernie’s Book Bank: At this time, Bernie’s Book Bank (Lake Bluff Processing Center) is open on select days for book drop. See below for details.
- Book Drop Locations: Many book drop locations have re-opened, including all Wintrust banks! Find the book drop location nearest you.
- Pop-Up Book Drives: To ensure a safe and speedy book donation experience, we’re hosting touch-free book drives throughout Chicagoland. See below for details.
- Have 500+ books? We’ll pick them up! Contact us to schedule a pick-up.
- Books should be packaged in boxes no larger than the size of a bankers box.
- We are not able to accept weeded books from school libraries.
- We are not able to accept textbooks, dictionaries, activity books, coloring books, reference material or religious books
BOOK DROP DAYS @ BERNIE’S BOOK BANK
- Dates: Tuesday, 4/27/21 • Thursday, 5/27/21 • Thursday, 6/17/21
- Location: 917 North Shore Drive, Lake Bluff, IL 60044
- Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Details: Pack your new and gently used children’s books in the trunk or backseat of your vehicle. Drive by the side door of Bernie’s Book Bank and a team member will unload your books for a touch-free experience. Please note, if the temperature is below 55 degrees or heavily raining on a Book Drop Day, it will be a self-service drop off. You can drive up alongside our facility and place your books directly in the bins for donation.
POP-UP BOOK DRIVES
- Pop-Up Book Drive – Wheaton: Friday, May 7th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cantigny Park (1 S 151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL 60189)
- Details: Pack your new and gently used children’s books in the trunk or backseat of your vehicle. Drive thru and a team member will unload your books for a touch-free experience.
Need a receipt for books donated at one of our book drop locations?
Have more than 500 books?
We’ll pick them up! Contact us for a large pickup. Please note, we are not able to accept weeded books from school libraries.