Trade-In/Donation Policy

At The Book Room, we believe in giving stories a second (or third!) life. Our trade-in program invites you to bring in your gently loved books in exchange for store credit.

Trading in books isn’t just a great way to refresh your shelves—it’s also a simple act of sustainability. Each book you pass along helps reduce waste and keeps stories flowing through our community, one reader at a time.

HOW IT WORKS

📚 Bring in Your Books

We accept gently used books in good condition. Please make sure they are clean, odor-free, and free of water damage or excessive wear. Trade-ins are accepted on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. If you need a Saturday, please contact us to set up a time to come in.

Books we cannot accept:
Books without a dust jacket
Former library books of any type
Reference books or textbooks
Magazines
Books with damage, odors, or that show signs of bugs, mold, or mildew
Books that are dirty, smell, or show evidence of bugs, mold, mildew, etc., will need to be removed from the store immediately.

To keep things manageable, we accept up to 10 books per person per visit.

 

📝 Evaluation

Our team will review your books on the spot, or if you have a larger collection, we may need up to 3 business days. We select books based on condition, customer interest, and current inventory needs.

 

💳 Store Credit

For accepted titles, you’ll receive store credit in the form of a gift certificate with a code that can be used in-store.
Store credit is good for one year from the date of issue. After one year, it will no longer be valid.
Store credit has no cash value and cannot be redeemed for cash. If the full amount is not used, no change will be given. You can use the gift certificate multiple times to use up the balance.
Lost store credit gift cards cannot be replaced, so please keep it in a safe place.

 

🚫 Not All Books Will Be Accepted

Books not accepted for trade can be taken back or donated. We often partner with local charities and would be happy to pass them along on your behalf.

 

📦 Want to Donate Instead?

We gladly accept book donations! If you’d rather skip the trade-in process, you’re welcome to drop off gently used books at any time during store hours. Any books we’re unable to use will be passed along to local charities, thrift shops, or community organizations. Your donations help support literacy and access to affordable books throughout Wilkes and beyond.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I bring in my books for trade?

We accept trade-ins on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. If you'd like to trade books on a Saturday, please contact us ahead of time to set up a specific time to come in.

How many books can I bring in at a time?

You can bring in up to 10 books per person per visit. This helps us manage the volume of trade-ins efficiently.

What kinds of books do you accept for trade?

We are especially interested in recent or popular fiction and popular non-fiction titles. Books should be in good condition, meaning they should be clean, odor-free, and without excessive damage. We do not accept textbooks, reference books, or magazines.

What books will not be accepted?

We do not accept the following:

  • Hardback books without a dust jacket
  • Former library books of any type
  • Reference books or textbooks
  • Magazines
  • Books with damage, odors, or that show signs of bugs, mold, or mildew

Books that are dirty, smell, or show evidence of bugs, mold, mildew, etc., will need to be removed from the store immediately.

How is my trade-in evaluated?

Our team will review your books on the spot. We select books based on condition, customer interest, and our current inventory needs. We reserve the right to end a trade-in at any time.

How do I receive store credit?

For accepted books, you’ll receive store credit in the form of a gift certificate. This gift certificate comes with a unique code that you can use in-store for future purchases.

How long is my store credit valid?

Store credit is valid for one year from the date of issue. After that, it will no longer be usable. Please be sure to use it within the year!

Can I get cash for my trade-ins?

We do not offer cash for trade-ins. All store credit will be issued in the form of a gift certificate. If the full amount of the store credit is not used, no change will be given. However, you can use the gift certificate multiple times until the full value is used.

What happens if I lose my store credit gift card?

Unfortunately, lost store credit gift cards cannot be replaced, so please keep it in a safe place.

Can I donate books instead of trading them in?

Yes! We gladly accept book donations. If you prefer, you can drop off gently used books during store hours. Any books we cannot use for trade-ins will be passed along to local charities, thrift shops, or community organizations, supporting literacy and access to books throughout Wilkes and beyond.

Do I have to accept the trade-in offer?

No, you are not required to accept our trade-in offer. If you are unhappy with the offer, you are welcome to take your books back.