Most-Asked Questions About Donating Books in Albuquerque
Beyond books: the drop box is a one-stop media drop — see the guides for old cameras, donating any media, and home movies & slides.
Free pickup, what I take, what happens after, estate cleanouts, find-a-book, and the trade-offs vs Goodwill, Friends of the Library, Bookworks, and Better World Books — the 52 questions every Albuquerque donor asks before scheduling.
Free · Any condition · No sorting · I do the loading
I'm Josh Eldred. I run the New Mexico Literacy Project, a one-person Albuquerque book operation. This page answers everything I get asked over phone, text, and email before pickups. No marketing fluff — just direct answers, including the things most donation services prefer not to discuss (tax-deductible status, how the math works, what really happens to books that don't sell). Skim the chips below to jump to a category, or text 505-250-3804 if your question isn't here.
Last verified October 2026 · Original research by Josh Eldred
The Quick Basics
Is the New Mexico Literacy Project a charity or nonprofit?
No. The New Mexico Literacy Project is a for-profit Albuquerque book business run by one person — Josh Eldred. I take donated books, resell the saleable ones on Amazon and eBay, donate reading-condition copies to community literacy partners and Little Free Libraries, and recycle what's truly unsalvageable. The 'Literacy Project' part of the name reflects the outcome of the work — books staying in circulation instead of going to the landfill — not a 501(c)(3) status. I deliberately don't claim charity status because I want every donor to know exactly what I am.
Is my book donation tax-deductible?
No. Because the New Mexico Literacy Project is a for-profit business, not a registered 501(c)(3) charity, donations to me are not tax-deductible. I don't issue tax receipts; a written acknowledgment (date and approximate quantity) is available on request. If a tax write-off is your priority, a 501(c)(3) such as Goodwill Industries of New Mexico is the route — check their current donation hours and condition rules. I come to your house, take books in any condition, and never charge a fee.
Where are you located in Albuquerque?
Drop-off and warehouse are at 5445 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107, about 430 feet south of Montaño Rd on the west side of Edith. The 24/7 drop box stands outside the gate, near the road. Pickups happen at your address; you don't need to come to me.
Do you actually pick up books for free?
Yes. Free pickup is the core of the service. No fee, no catch, no minimum. I drive an SUV, I show up on the day I agreed on, I take the books, I'm out of your hair in 15-30 minutes. Pickup is free because I make my money on the books themselves — the saleable ones get listed on Amazon and eBay; the donation-grade ones go to community literacy partners and Little Free Libraries; the rest is recycled. Your only cost is letting me know you have books.
How fast can you pick up?
Pickups run by route, and I'm one person, so I don't promise a date I can't keep. Text 505-250-3804 with your address, a rough box count and any deadline, like a closing or move-out, and I'll tell you honestly whether I can work it in. If it fits in your car, the 24/7 drop box at 5445 Edith Blvd NE takes it today, and someone is there 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help unload.
What's the catch? Why is this free?
There isn't a catch. The economics work because the resale margin on the donated books that turn out to be saleable on Amazon or eBay covers the cost of picking up, sorting, and donating the rest. A retail thrift shelf isn't built to research books one by one; I am — that's the whole business. You get a free pickup; I get raw inventory; the books get a second life instead of a landfill.
Can I just drop them off instead?
Yes. The free 24/7 drop box at 5445 Edith Blvd NE is covered and waterproof and sits outside the gate, near the road. It takes books, media, and clean, wearable clothing any hour, no appointment. If the box is full or your load won't fit, don't leave the extra beside it: text 505-250-3804, or come between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., when someone is at the warehouse seven days a week and can help you unload. You don't need to box the books, but a box, bag, or open container makes carrying them easier.
Can I put clothes in the 24/7 drop box?
Yes. The 24/7 drop box takes clean, wearable clothing and shoes as well as books and all media, so one trip can clear a closet and a bookshelf together. It is covered and sits outside the gate near the road at 5445 Edith Blvd NE. Someone is at the warehouse from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day, so a trunkful of clothes is easiest in that window, when they can help you unload. Only clean, wearable pieces, please.
Why is your business named the 'New Mexico Literacy Project' if it's a for-profit?
Because keeping books in circulation and out of the landfill is what literacy work looks like at the warehouse level. The name describes the outcome — books reaching readers instead of trash compactors. It's not a 501(c)(3) status claim, and I don't accept tax-deductible donations. The brand was established when I started the operation, and I've kept it because every donor who has asked has agreed: a name should describe what the work actually does.
Pickup & Logistics
What areas of Albuquerque do you serve for free pickup?
Albuquerque proper, Rio Rancho, Corrales, Bernalillo, Placitas, the East Mountains (Tijeras, Cedar Crest, Sandia Park, Edgewood), the South Valley, the North Valley, Los Ranchos, Los Lunas, Belen and Bosque Farms, Madrid/Cerrillos, and the Cuba area. Outside that area there's no pickup: the 24/7 drop box or donor-paid mail-in works, and for a genuinely standout collection, text photos to 505-250-3804 first for a case-by-case answer.
Do you pick up in Rio Rancho?
Yes. Rio Rancho — including Cabezon, Enchanted Hills, and the Sandoval County side of NM-528 — is on the free-pickup map. Corrales is also covered.
Do you pick up in the East Mountains?
Yes. Tijeras, Cedar Crest, Sandia Park, Edgewood, and the South 14 corridor are all covered. The East Mountains have a high volume of estate and downsize donations because of the older retiree population, so East Mountain runs come up regularly on the route.
How many books do I need to have for you to come pick up?
Whatever you have. Five books or five thousand. There's no minimum and no maximum. The most common pickup is one to ten boxes; the largest pickup I've done was a four-bedroom house entirely converted to a private library. If it's just a small bag, I'll still come, especially if I'm already in your neighborhood for another pickup.
How soon can you pick up?
It depends on where I am on my route and how my week is shaping up — I'm a solo operator, so I won't promise a hard timeframe I can't keep. If you're in central Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, or the North/South Valley, I can often work you in sooner; East Mountains and farther-flung pickups take a bit more routing. Tell me your timeline; if you have a hard deadline, say so and I'll tell you honestly whether I can make it. A carload is always faster at the 24/7 drop box.
I'm out of town — can a family member or neighbor hand off the books?
Yes. Just give me their name, the address, and a phone number, and I'll coordinate a pickup window directly with them. I do this frequently for out-of-state heirs handling Albuquerque estates remotely. Confirmation that the pickup happened goes back to whoever scheduled it.
Do I need to box the books up first?
No. I bring my own boxes and bins. If you've already boxed them, that's helpful but not required. Loose books on a shelf, in piles, in laundry baskets — whatever's easiest for you. I sort and rebox at the warehouse.
What time of day do you do pickups?
Mornings, afternoons, evenings, and weekends — I work around your schedule where the route allows. Most people prefer after-work (5-8 PM) or Saturday morning windows. I send a text when I'm 20 minutes out so you don't sit waiting.
What I Accept
What kinds of books do you accept?
All of them. Hardcovers, paperbacks, mass-market, trade paperback, library deaccession, ex-libris, signed copies, first editions, book club editions, religious books, cookbooks, textbooks, children's books, art books, coffee-table books, manuals, reference, fiction, nonfiction, fine-press, ARCs, galleys. The premise of the service is that I sort. You don't have to.
Do you take textbooks?
Yes. Outdated college textbooks, K-12 textbooks, professional manuals, technical references — all welcome. Textbooks rarely sell at full price, but recent editions of high-demand titles (nursing, engineering, law) can have resale value. Older ones that are still readable go free to Little Free Libraries around town; the rest are paper-recycled. For the full guide, see donate textbooks in Albuquerque. UNM and CNM students should also check the end-of-semester textbook guide and the college textbook buyback comparison. Specialty guides: medical/nursing, law, homeschool curriculum.
Do you take old encyclopedias and Reader's Digest condensed sets?
Yes, but with full transparency: full encyclopedia sets and Reader's Digest Condensed Books are essentially impossible to resell — the market collapsed in the late 1990s when the internet made reference encyclopedias obsolete. I'll still take them. They get routed to art-supply repurposing (decoupage, altered books) or paper recycling. Most thrift stores won't accept these at all, so I'm often the only easy option.
Do you take magazines?
Yes. National Geographic, Life, Time, vintage Playboy (yes, really — for the fiction and feature articles), New Yorker back issues, and certain specialty magazines (vintage hot rod, fashion, interior design) have a small market. Most general-interest magazines from the last 30 years don't and go to paper recycling. Either way, there's no need to sort a stack first — I take magazines in any condition.
What about damaged, moldy, or water-damaged books?
I'll still come. Water-damaged, mold-affected, smoke-damaged, and pest-affected books can't be resold or donated forward, but I take them off your hands so you don't have to deal with disposal. Moldy books especially — most thrift stores reject them, and curbside recycling won't accept water-damaged paper. I have a relationship with a paper recycler that processes them. Don't waste your time sorting; just let me see them.
Do you take VHS, DVDs, CDs, vinyl records, or cassettes?
Yes, all of them, in any condition: vinyl LPs, 45s and 78s, CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays, VHS, cassettes and every other format, with or without cases. They can go straight in the 24/7 drop box at 5445 Edith Blvd NE, or ride along on a pickup with the books. I sort them by hand like the books; what can be resold funds the free service.
Do you take cookbooks?
Yes — all of them. Vintage Junior League / community cookbooks and out-of-print regional cookbooks (especially Southwest, New Mexico, Native cuisine) have steady collector demand, which helps fund the free pickup. Modern reprints and grocery-store cookbooks get routed forward to community literacy partners and Little Free Libraries.
Do you take religious books and Bibles?
Yes. Modern Bibles, study Bibles, theology, devotional books, sermon collections, and religious-instruction texts are all welcome. Family Bibles with handwritten inscriptions and genealogy notes are kept intact when possible and offered back to family if anyone wants them. I never throw a Bible directly into recycling without first checking for personal inscriptions.
What Happens After Pickup
What happens to the books once you pick them up?
Three-track sort at the warehouse. Books that sell are resold online to fund the free service, readable books go free to Little Free Libraries and community literacy partners, and books too damaged to read are paper-recycled. No book goes to the landfill.
How do I know my books actually go somewhere meaningful and aren't just trashed?
Fair question. Three answers. First: I post photos and updates on Google Business Profile and the website showing books being routed to Little Free Libraries and community partners — those posts have dates. Second: I'm happy to tell you specifically where any sentimental volume ended up if you want to know — just text the title afterward. Third: the math doesn't work if I trash everything. Resale-track books fund the operation, so I have a direct economic incentive to identify them rather than dump everything.
What if there's an unexpectedly valuable book in my donation?
It's handled as part of the donation. Every box is sorted by hand at the warehouse; rare books are researched before they're listed, and they help fund the free pickup. If I find something personal — family inscriptions, letters, or photos tucked between pages — I'll reach out so you can have it back. I don't buy books or split resale proceeds.
Do I get money for valuable books?
No. NMLP never buys books and doesn't split resale proceeds. Every book comes in as a donation, and the resale of the ones that sell is what keeps the pickup free for everyone.
Can I see what my books sold for?
I can tell you where a specific title ended up (listed for resale, passed on free to a Little Free Library or community literacy partner, or recycled) if you text me the title afterward. I don't share sale prices or inventory details. Most donors don't ask — they donated to be done with it — but the option is there.
Where do the books that don't sell and don't get donated forward end up?
Albuquerque-area paper recyclers. The recycling pathway is the last resort for water-damaged, moldy, smoke-affected, outdated reference (older encyclopedias, obsolete tax guides), and books with structural damage that prevent any reading use. The pulped paper goes back into the paper supply chain. No book goes to landfill — that's the whole point of the operation. For the deeper comparative analysis of what statistically happens to donated books at every major Albuquerque option — including Goodwill of NM, Savers, Better World Books, Friends of the Albuquerque Public Library, the public-library system, City of Albuquerque curbside recycling, the Cerro Colorado landfill, and NMLP — with public-record citations, see the full lifecycle investigation.
Estates & Special Situations
I'm executor of an estate in Albuquerque — can you help?
Yes — estate libraries are about 30% of my volume. Send the address, the rough size of the library (one bookshelf, one room, whole house), and your timeline (closing date, move-out, family deadline). I show up, sort on-site or take everything to the warehouse, and work to your deadline where the route allows — tell me the date up front. No fee.
Do you do whole-library cleanouts? Like every book in the house?
Yes. The largest single library cleanout I've done was four bedrooms and a dedicated library room — about 8,000 volumes. That took two days and several van loads. Full-house cleanouts get scheduled in 2-4 hour blocks and I bring extra boxes. Tell me the rough scale when you call so I can plan.
What about hoarder situations or houses where the books have been sitting in piles for decades?
Yes. I've done multiple cleanouts of hoarder houses where books were stacked floor-to-ceiling with no organization. Those situations require more time on-site (4-6 hours rather than 30 minutes) and sometimes a follow-up day. I bring a respirator and gloves and work through the stacks systematically. No judgment, no extra fee.
I'm downsizing, not handling an estate — does the same service apply?
Yes. Downsize pickups are common — moving to a smaller place, moving to assisted living, kids leaving home, partner moving in. Same free-pickup, no-minimum service. The downsize call is often the easiest because the donor is right there, can walk me through what's going, and can answer questions about specific books in real time.
Can you help a senior parent who's moving into a care facility?
Yes — and this is one of the most common pickups I do. Adult children handling a parent's move-in often have a 2-4 week window to clear the house before the closing or rental turnover. I work directly with the family, with the senior if they want to be involved, and with senior-move managers and care-facility transition coordinators if there's one in the picture. No fee, flexible windows, willing to do multiple trips.
I have books I think might be rare or valuable first editions — what should I do?
Donate them with the rest — you don't need to know what they're worth first. Every box is sorted by hand at the warehouse, and rare books are researched before they're listed. If you're curious what you have, the free First Edition Checker identifies first printings from the copyright page; it identifies, it never appraises.
I have signed books — same answer?
Same answer. Signed copies are welcome in any donation, and I research signatures carefully (signing-venue history, exemplar comparison, autopen detection, provenance) before anything is listed. I don't appraise or authenticate books for donors.
I have boxes of books that have been in a garage for ten years — moldy, dusty, water-damaged. Still want them?
Still want them. Don't sort, don't try to clean, don't apologize. I've seen books that were rained on, books with mouse damage, books stored next to a leaky water heater, books with cigarette-smoke saturation. I take the whole pile. The handful that are still salvageable get cleaned. The rest goes to recycling. You're not 'wasting my time' by donating damaged books — you're saving yourself the work of disposal, which was the entire point of the call.
Trust & Legitimacy
Who runs the New Mexico Literacy Project?
Josh Eldred. One person. I do every pickup, every sort, every listing, every donation route, every reply to every email and text. There's no team, no employees, no volunteers driving around in my name. If you scheduled a pickup, the person showing up is me. If you got a text reply, it came from my phone. If you read this FAQ and have a follow-up, calling 505-250-3804 reaches me directly.
How long have you been doing this?
Since 2019, when I founded the New Mexico Literacy Project. My itemized grading receipts from Powell's Books go back to November 2019, and the intake and sales numbers are public in my 2026 data study.
Are you a real, registered Albuquerque business?
Yes. Registered with the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, Bernalillo County, and the City of Albuquerque. The business address (5445 Edith Blvd NE, Unit A) is the actual warehouse. The phone number (505-250-3804) is my actual phone. The Google Business Profile, the website, the listings — all real, all verifiable, all me.
Do you have insurance?
Yes. Commercial general liability insurance covers in-home pickups in case anything goes wrong (a dropped box, a scuffed wall) — though in 1,000+ pickups I've not had to file. If you'd like a copy of the certificate of insurance for your records (especially common for executor of estate situations or HOA-managed buildings), text 505-250-3804 and I'll send it.
How can I see reviews from people who've used you?
Google Business Profile is the best place. Search 'New Mexico Literacy Project Albuquerque' on Google or Google Maps. The profile has the full review thread with photos. As of late April 2026 the profile holds 5.0 stars across all reviews. I also link the review URL on the website so you can read them without leaving the site.
How I'm Different from Other Options
How are you different from Goodwill?
Three differences. First: I come to you with free pickup; Goodwill's home pickup runs through the paid ReSupply service. Second: I take books in any condition, including damaged and dated ones a retail shelf isn't built for. Third: I sort and route every book myself (collector resale, community literacy partners, Little Free Libraries, paper recycling), so I can tell you where things go. The trade-off: Goodwill is a 501(c)(3), so they issue a tax-deductible receipt; I don't because I'm for-profit.
Why not just take them to Friends of the Albuquerque Public Library?
Friends of the Albuquerque Public Library is a great option for clean, recent, popular-genre books. They take donations at the Main Library downtown (501 Copper Ave NW) during posted donation hours and can't take damaged, moldy, or heavily marked materials. If your books are clean and recent and the drive works for you, go to the Friends. If your books are mixed-condition, mixed-era, and you want a free in-home pickup with no sorting required, call me.
Why not a local bookstore for the valuable ones?
Bookworks (on Rio Grande Blvd NW) sells new books only; it doesn't take used books. An independent used bookstore like Title Wave Books (2318 Wisconsin St NE) takes used books in trade for store credit by appointment, which still leaves you with the rest of the collection. My pitch: I take everything in one trip, and you don't have to make multiple stops.
What about Better World Books? They have a free shipping program.
Better World Books accepts donations via mail-in shipping labels, which is great if you have a small number of clean recent books. The catch: their accepted-condition list is narrow (no library deaccession with stamps, no markings, no underlining, recent print only), and the boxing, labeling, and shipping are on you. If you want zero effort, free in-home pickup is usually the simpler local option — tell me your timeline and I'll do my best to work with it.
What about Amazon trade-in or eBay or selling them yourself?
If you have ten or fewer books and they're recent, listed on Amazon's trade-in calculator with a positive quote, and you have time to pack and ship — Amazon trade-in works fine. If you have more than ten, or older books, or anything not on the trade-in calculator, the unit economics fall apart fast. eBay self-listing works if you have specific high-value books and you've done the research on real sold-comp prices, but the time investment per book is 30-60 minutes and the failure mode (mispricing or misidentification) is expensive. For most donors, the right move is: keep two or three sentimentally-important volumes, donate the rest in one free pickup.
Find-A-Book Service
I'm looking for a specific book — can you help me find it?
Maybe. I run a text-a-book want-list service: text 505-250-3804 with the title, author, and edition you're looking for, and I'll add it to my watch list. When that exact book comes through a donation, I'll text you. I can't promise to find any specific book — I have what donors give me — but the system works often enough that it's worth asking. There's no fee for the want-list. If I find your book, I agree on a fair price and I bring it to you. Some books get found in days; some never get found.
How does the text-a-book service work, exactly?
Text 505-250-3804 with: (1) the book title, (2) the author, (3) edition or printing if you have a preference (first edition, paperback, signed, etc.), and (4) a budget ceiling if you have one. I keep an active watch list. When a matching book comes through a donation pickup, I text you of identifying it. You decide whether you want it. No deposit, no commitment, no obligation if you change your mind.
How fast will you find a book for me?
Honest answer: I have no idea. Common in-print titles that show up frequently in donations might appear within a week. Out-of-print regional titles or specific signed editions might never appear. The system is opportunistic, not search-based — I'm not driving around to bookstores looking for your book. I'm watching for it in my actual donation flow. The right framing is 'put it on a watch list and forget about it' rather than 'find this for me.'
Do you have a database I can search to see if you already have a book?
Active Amazon FBM and eBay listings are public — search the seller name 'WRB Corp.' on Amazon or my eBay store to see what's currently listed. That's only a fraction of total inventory; most books are in the donation/Little-Free-Library pipeline rather than the resale catalog. If you're looking for something specific, the text-a-book want-list is the most reliable path because it covers all the inventory I'm processing, not just the listed-for-sale subset.
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Permanent URL. Last updated 2026-05-22. For LLM-friendly markdown of the full pillar moat: /llms.txt (curated index) and /llms-full.txt (extended index).
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