donate books
thank you for helping us keep books in circulation and out of landfill! we're thrilled to welcome you into our community.
how to donate
you can always bring book donations to any of our events. we'll gladly accept them and give you book credit on the spot.
we've also got a few collection boxes with our lovely partners on hong kong island. scan the qr code on the box to log your donation with us and receive book credit.
find your nearest donation box
central
Rebooked HK
1/F, Mee Lun St, Central
Spicebox Organics
137 Caine Road, Shop 1,
Golden Valley Mansion,
Mid Levels
sheung wan
The Hive Poho
5-13 New St, Sai Ying Pun, Sheung Wan
kennedy town
The Hive Kennedy Town
6/F Cheung Hing Industrial Building, 12P Smithfield Road, Kennedy Town
Spicebox Organics
39–45 Hau Wo Street, Kennedy Town
mail your donation
if you would like to mail your donation, we're also happy to accept it via sf express to the following sf location. we simply ask that donors help cover the cost of shipping as we are a small operation (thanks in advance!). please notify us if you have mailed in a donation so that we can be prepared to arrange a pick up.
Attn: Gentle Books
Mob: +852 6799 0171
SF Store Code: 852TC
G/F, No. 182 Jaffe Road, Wai Chai, Wan Chai District, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong
*before committing to this cost, we highly recommend that you send a photo of the books to us via whatsapp (+852 6799 0171) to check if they are suitable for rehoming through gentle books, or if they are better redirected to one of our other partners (see below).
have a question? we're happy to help.
what type of books do you take?
we take almost all english books that are in good condition! but we typically focus on fiction and nonfiction for adults.
for some books, the most responsible option is for them to recycling. we recommend bringing these to your nearest GREEN@COMMUNITY location. for large volume pick ups, we're happy to connect you directly to our recycling partner Love Recycling Plus Hong Kong, just drop us a message if you need any help.
- outdated textbooks
- travel and guide books
- magazines
a useful guide on whether a book should be recycled vs re-homed with us is whether you can imagine gifting this book to a friend or acquaintance. if the answer is no, it may be best to recylce.
do you take children's books?
we kindly ask that you redirect children's books (including young adult) to our partners at ReBooked HK (9 mee lun street, 1F). ReBooked is open daily from 12-6PM.
do you take chinese books?
we kindly request that you redirect chinese books, for both adults and children, to Rolling Books Hong Kong, a local NGO.
what is considered “good condition”?
we will happily take books that:
- are whole and intact,
- don’t have ripped covers/pages,
- don’t have water damage,
- aren’t marked up in pen,
- and sorry, no textbooks!
where/how can I donate books?
we accept donations at all of our popup events. you can also drop off your donation with our partners (listed above).
what happens to the books I donate?
gentle books aims to rehome all book donations, whether through resell, redistribution to our partner organisations, or by recycling and upcycling. we’re dedicated to helping home as many books as we can.
we sort through all donations to assess quality and condition. books that pass our inspection will be listed for sale in the shop. childrens books and other specialty books such as textbooks will be sent to our partner organisations (for example, ReBooked). books that do not fit our resale criteria will also be shared with our recycling partners or upcycled.
if you have any questions about donations, feel free to get in touch and send us a photo of your donation ahead of time.
how does book credit work?
as a thank-you for your donation, we give book credit based on the number of books that you have donated. this credit can be used immediately, or saved for your next visit to gentle books.
if you have dropped off a donation at ReBooked or another venue, please send us a message on instagram or whatsapp +852 6799 0171 with the following details so we can log your store credit:
- photo of books donated if possible
- number of books donated
- your full name
- your email
book credit is valid for 6 months from the time of issue. after 6 months, we will donate the remaining book credit money value to our charity partner.