Guelph seeking donations ahead of Big Book Sale

Books at the Guelph Public Library on Aug. 7, 2025. (Ashley Bacon/CTV News)

Calling all readers!

Organizers are looking for donations for this year’s Big Book Sale in Guelph.

They say hundreds of thousands of books have been rehomed over the last 17 years.

As an added bonus, money raised from the event supports the Guelph Public Library.

“Every morning, we come in [and] there’s a pile of books waiting,” said CEO Dan Atkins. “[Volunteers] do a phenomenal job of organizing the material and getting it ready for the sale.”

The Big Book Sale will be held from Sept. 25 to Sept. 28 at 440 Elmira Road North (the Bamco warehouse).

Leading up to the event, the main library is collecting used books, graphic novels, textbooks (published after 2015), DVDs, Blu-Rays, vinyl records, sheet music, video games, puzzles and other games. All must be clean and in good condition.

“Last year there were around 80,000 items [donated],” said committee chair Lynn Allen.

The library said they can not accept encyclopedia sets, magazines, Reader’s Digest books, scholarly journals, CDs, cassette and VHS tapes, or outdated textbooks, travel books, business books, computer books, tax guides or health books published prior to 2015.

Organizers ask that items be dropped off in bags or boxes weighing less than 13.5 kg (or 30 lbs.).

“Donations are being accepted at the Main Library, the East Side branch and the Westminster branch starting August 5th through to September 12th,” said Atkins.

Encouraging a love of reading is also a key component of the fundraiser.

“One of our core mandates is to improve literacy and to make reading available, and to promote lifelong learning,” Atkins explained. “This book sale goes to support it.”

In addition to clearing out their shelves, donors can feel good about supporting the community.

“Friends donated $1 million to the Guelph Public Library in 2023 and that money is going directly to support the new Central Library, which is being built at 55 Baker Street,” Allen said.

Organizers are hoping this year’s event will bring in around $100,000.

For more information, visit the Guelph Public Library’s website.