donation guide

This guide covers everything you need to know before your pickup: what we accept, how to get things ready, and what to expect on your pickup day.

what we accept

BOOKS of all kinds (hardcover and paperback, antique books, fiction and nonfiction, vintage paperbacks, children’s books, cookbooks, and more), plus:

CDs · DVDs · Vinyl Records · Comics · Video Games · Sports Cards · Ephemera · Audio Cassettes · Audio Books · VHS Tapes · Board Games · Puzzles · Software

*Ephemera is printed paper items like postcards, maps, photographs, letters, stamps, posters, playbills, and tickets.

what we can’t take

• Encyclopedias or Readers’ Digest Condensed Books
• Anything moldy, musty smelling, or water-damaged
• Items too damaged to pass along to a new reader
• General household items or furniture.

getting your donation ready

• Pack everything in boxes or bags. No loose items, please. We don’t bring boxes, and we’ll take the containers with us, so please use containers you don’t need back.
• Keep each box under 50 lbs and light enough for one person to lift. (We love our backs!)
• Place your items somewhere safe, visible and easy to reach, like your porch or front step, or at the top of your driveway.
• Have it out by 8am on your pickup day.
• Watching the weather? We pick up rain or shine. Just keep boxes covered or somewhere dry, since we can’t take books that have gotten wet.

on pickup day

We’ll arrive sometime between 8am and 8pm, and there’s no need to be home or wait around. If you opted in for text updates when you booked, we’ll send a quick message when we’re on the way. Once your donation is picked up, that’s it. You’re all done!

where we pick up

We serve communities across Southern Nevada, including Henderson, Las Vegas Valley, Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Centennial Hills, Boulder City, and surrounding areas. Pickup days vary by neighborhood. Enter your zip code on the booking form and it will show you the days available for your area.

Outside our area? Submit your details anyway, and we’ll do our best to make it work.

large collections

Clearing out a large home library or estate? For donations of more than 12 boxes, the booking form will ask you to tell us a bit more, and we’ll reach out personally to plan the pickup.

common questions

who will pick up my donated books for free?

Whistle-Stop Bookshop offers free pickup of books and media in good condition across Henderson, Las Vegas, Summerlin, Boulder City and surrounding areas. Just book online, set your boxes out on pickup day by 8am, and we take it from there.

What happens to my donation?

Every donation is sorted by hand. Some items are sold through our online shop to help support our family, and those sales help cover the costs of keeping this pickup service completely free. Others are passed along to local used bookstores and to organizations that get books into the hands of people who need them.

Thanks to donors like you… more stories, history, and knowledge stay in circulation and out of the landfill.

Why give my books to you?

We’re a family business, and we know books. We value hard work, integrity, and giving back to the community.

Want to know more about us? Read our story.

Is my donation tax-deductible?

No. Whistle-Stop Bookshop is a small local business, not a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, so we can’t provide tax-deduction receipts.

Can my boxes be returned?

We take the containers along with your donation, so please use boxes or bags you won’t need returned.

how do you get rid of a large number of books?

Large collections are what we love most. Whether it’s a few boxes or a whole home library, we pick up for free, take everything with us, and find new readers for your books.

does someone need to be home?

Nope! Just have everything out by 8am.

where can you donate books in Henderson?

Right from your doorstep. We pick up free book donations all across Henderson, including Anthem, Green Valley and Lake Las Vegas, as well as Las Vegas, Summerlin and Boulder City. Enter your zip code on the booking form to see your pickup days.

is there a drop-off location?

We don’t have a public drop-off location. Our bookshop is online, so instead of you hauling boxes to us, we come to you. Just schedule a free pickup and set your books out that morning.