Before the sale: Book donations accepted at the Main Library only
Have a few items to donate?
- Carry them in! Please leave items in labeled boxes on tables in the Lobby Community Space.
- Accepted: Books, DVDs, and CDs in good condition.
- Not accepted: Textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines, and VHS tapes.
Have a lot to donate? Use the ‘Drive Up & Drop Off’ Saturdays option
Beginning June 3, use our convenient Saturday 9 am-1 pm bulk book drop, located at the library loading dock (in the alley on the west side of the Main Library). Enter from North Grove Avenue, stop at the dock to unload your donations, and exit straight via Lake Street.
Sale weekend hours by day
Friday, 9 am-5:30 pm
Sale open to all.
Saturday, 9 am-4:30 pm
Sale open to all.
Sunday, noon-2 pm (volunteers only)
Fair volunteers are invited to select free items.
Sunday, 2-4 pm
- Local nonprofits, schoolteachers, area Little Free Library Stewards, and fair volunteers are invited to select free items.
- NEW THIS YEAR: Everyone is invited to fill up a grocery bag with their choice of items for just $10 a bag.
What’s new in 2023
New this year: More space to shop, with items spread throughout all three Main Library floors. To help you find what you are looking for, we’ll have maps available as you enter, and volunteers will be on all floors to help you find what you’re looking for.
Also new? The mid-July timing of the sale, which has historically been held in August.
Last summer’s sale was the first to be held at the Main Library instead of Oak Park and River Forest High School. After the 2022 sale, Friends Board President Russ Glidden said the Friends did some follow-up to better plan for 2023. They surveyed volunteers, spoke with shoppers, and researched what other community events were already on the calendar for the summer of 2023. “Many people wanted another date,” he said. “The third weekend in July proved to be the best option.”
And finally, for 2-4 pm on the last day of the sale, we added an option for shoppers to fill a bag with items for $10 only (see above).
After the sale: Where to donate your gently used books
The library will not be accepting book fair donations after the sale. Here are more local options:
Open Books (various drop-off locations, visit the website to schedule a free pickup)
- West Loop:
- 651 W Lake, Chicago, IL 60661 – Available during store hours (Mondays to Saturdays, 9 am-7 pm; Sundays, noon to 6 pm). No more than four boxes per donation at this location, please.
- 645 W Couch Pl., Chicago, IL 60661 – Drop box off of Desplaines between Randolph and Lake, behind the West Loop store
- Pilsen: 905 W. 19th St., Chicago, IL 60608 – Drop slot in front of building available 24 hours a day. Larger donations accepted during store hours, 7 days a week, 10 am to 4 pm
- River North: 802 W. Superior, Chicago, IL 60642 – Drop box at corner of Halsted and Superior
Chicago Books to Women in Prison
Sends books to state prisons in in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Ohio, as well as all federal prisons.
Liberation Library
Headquartered in Chicago. Serves youth in all Illinois youth prisons and select Illinois youth jails.
Midwest Books to Prisoners
Located in Chicago and sends books to people incarcerated in the Midwest, plus all federal prisons. How to donate »
Little Free Libraries
Individually owned residential (see site and map) and Park District of Oak Park Little Free Libraries are on the Cheney Mansion grounds and in Austin Gardens, Lindberg Park, and Mills Park. A Little Free Library steward request: please be sure to only leave what will fit inside the library.
Our Future Reads
Chicago nonprofit accepting new and gently used books, textbooks, comics, and manga by appointment only. Contactless pickup is available for all donations. Contact to arrange a pickup »
{Re}Book Oak Park Facebook group
A private Facebook group that you can request to join. The group is for swapping books, not selling.
