How to Get Rid of Old Books in Albuquerque

The fastest way to get rid of old books in Albuquerque is my free 24/7 drop box at 5445 Edith Blvd NE: no appointment, no sorting, any condition, any amount. If there are too many to haul, text 505-250-3804 and I'll pick them up free anywhere in the Albuquerque metro, scheduled by route.

Whether you're moving, downsizing, clearing a garage or handling an estate, the realistic options are the same. Here they are, ranked by how easy they actually are, plus what to do with the books nobody can use.

Last verified October 2026 · Original research by Josh Eldred

Option 1: Free 24/7 Drop-Off (Fastest)

I operate a free outdoor drop box outside the gate at 5445 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107, near Montano in the North Valley. It's open 24/7. Drive up, put your books in the box, leave. Done.

I accept books in any condition — water-damaged, highlighted, missing covers, outdated textbooks, children's books, novels, cookbooks, whatever. I also take DVDs, CDs, and audiobooks. No sorting required on your end.

This is the fastest option because there's no appointment, no business hours to work around, and no interaction required. Load your car, drive over, drop off.

The box is covered and sits outside the gate near the road. If it's full, or you've brought more than it holds, text 505-250-3804 or come between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., when someone is at the warehouse to help you unload.

Option 2: Sell Them

If you have books that might be worth something — first editions, college textbooks, popular titles in good condition — you could sell them on eBay, Amazon, or at a local used bookstore. This takes more time and effort, and most everyday books aren't worth the trouble of listing and shipping.

For the bulk of a typical book collection, selling isn't practical, and you don't need to hunt for the gems before donating: everything that comes to me gets sorted by hand, and rare books are researched before they're listed.

Option 3: Goodwill or Savers

Goodwill of New Mexico lists books on its accepted-items list, and its staffed donation centers open an hour before its thrift stores. Savers takes donated books at its Albuquerque stores too. Both suit clean books you can bring during open hours: Goodwill asks for gently used items and won't take wet goods, and its home pickup goes through its partner ReSupply, which charges a fee. I compare the options in more detail in Goodwill alternatives for book donations.

Option 4: Little Free Libraries

Albuquerque has Little Free Libraries scattered around various neighborhoods. These are great for a handful of books — maybe 5 to 10 at a time. Not practical if you're trying to get rid of a whole collection; for that, free book removal across the Albuquerque metro clears the shelves in one trip.

Option 5: Albuquerque Public Library

The Albuquerque and Bernalillo County library accepts donated books in good condition, but its branches turn away books with mold, highlighting or handwriting, plus magazines, Reader's Digest condensed books, encyclopedias and textbooks. Most donations become the property of the Friends of the Public Library and are sold at its book sales. The Friends take drop-offs at the Main Library downtown, 501 Copper Ave NW, during posted hours, and ask you to email ahead for ten or more boxes. For everything on the turned-away list, see what to do when the library won't take your books.

Don't Throw Them in the Trash

It's tempting to just toss old books in the garbage, especially if they're in rough shape. But books take up landfill space and the materials can be reused. Even damaged books can be sorted — some still find readers, and the rest can be recycled. Donating takes about the same amount of effort as driving to the dump.

If a book truly can't be read, the trash still isn't the only exit. The City of Albuquerque's blue-cart recycling list includes books, next to newspapers, magazines and phone books; keep them dry and out of plastic bags, which the cart doesn't take. Outdated textbooks belong in the drop box, not the bin (more in donating old textbooks). For when recycling makes sense and when it doesn't, see book recycling in Albuquerque. Whatever comes to me gets sorted by hand, and no book goes to the landfill.

Frequently Asked Questions