OUR NEXT MAMMOTH BOOK SALE IS JULY 26, 2026
Donate your gently used books to FOPLA
Our sales raise funds to support programming offered by our Ottawa Public Library.
Donation Guidelines​
​​​Friends of the Ottawa Public Library accept donations of books that are in good to excellent condition and that are likely to sell.
Our sales raise funds to support programming offered by our Ottawa Public Library. Our storage and recycling facilities are limited and the time of OPL staff and Friends volunteers is precious. Thank you for your serious consideration of the quality of the books you are donating. ​​
What We Accept
Books MUST BE clean and in excellent condition
Books that contain an ISBN number
Mass Market paperbacks, Softcover fiction
Hardcover fiction (any language)
Non-Fiction – All Topics (any language)
Children’s and teen’s books (any language)
Textbooks and Study Guides*
Travel writing, guides and picture books
Jigsaw Puzzles
CDs and DVDs and Audio Books
Music books and sheet music
Art books
Old maps and curiosities in good condition
Health/ Medicine, Fitness/Diet, Self-Help books*
Science books
Travel Guides *
Large print books (any type)
Graphic novels (all languages)​
Biographies/Memoirs*
Computer, Technology or Programming books*
Classic literature
Poetry
Large print books (any type)
Graphic novels and bandes dessinées
*Is my book out of date?​​​
Non-fiction books can become dated and some categories of books are unlikely to sell if they are more than 8 years old. FOPLA Store Managers may give slightly different instructions to local branch OPL staff.
For Antiquarian, rare or collectible books pre-1950 including unusual or valuable items you would like to donate please call us to discuss at 613.580.2424 x27875
Receive a tax receipt for ELIGIBLE item donations!
We Do Not Accept
Books with water damage or stains
Anything mildewed, musty, or dirty
Books with torn or missing pages
Vinyl Records
Encyclopedias, Magazines, Coffee Table Books
Books with loose or broken bindings
Signs of insect infestation or mold
Some books over 8 years old
Directories, Annuals, Yearbooks, Reports
Reader’s Digest Condensed Books
*Please ask yourself if you would buy the books you are donating.
Where to Donate Small Volumes of Books
Small volumes of books can always be donated to FOPLA
through any of the Ottawa Public Library branches.
Where to Donate Large Volumes of Books
Larger volume donations can be brought to our Distribution Center -
the James Bartleman Centre at 100 Tallwood Drive in Nepean, ON.
We offer 3 donation appointments daily
Monday through Friday: 10:30am, 11:30am and 12:30pm
Donors are asked to drive around to the back parking lot and pull up to the wide sidewalk and stop at the sign that reads “FOPLA Donation Drop-Off”​
Call the number below and one of our volunteers will come out and get your boxes.
To book an appointment, please call the Distribution Centre Monday to Friday between 10 am and 2 pm
How to package your donations
Books should be packaged in small boxes with maximum dimensions of 15 “x 12” x 10 “(e.g. LCBO box or bankers boxes - maximum size).
*Do not donate in large plastic bags or large, heavy boxes
We have limited space and we have to be able to stack and lift the boxes and protect our volunteers from any injury.
Items that do not meet our current donation criteria
Books that are not in acceptable condition, or that are not packed in suitable boxes, may be refused at your appointment.
Maximum Box Size
