The Book Bank

What It Is

The Philly Book Bank, run by Reading Recycled, helps teachers and the community get books and resources for the children they serve. Educators can get up to 400 books per school year, as well as supplemental classroom supplies.

How It Works

The Book Bank is member supported through annual dues of just $25. In exchange for those dues, Book Bank Members receive up to 400 books per school year and classroom supplies, with a combined value of over $4,000. We are chiefly supported by the kind and generous donations of many individual, community, and corporate partners. 

All Book Bank books are donated through individual donations or community and corporate book drives hosted on our behalf.

Get Involved

We encourage you to get involved because the startling reality is that many of our city's children and youth are not reading on grade level. With limited access to books at home and inaccessibility to books at school due to budget cuts, there are not many opportunities allotted to children and youth to escape into the literary world, use their imagination, and strengthen their literacy skills at the same time.

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What do you do with facts such as these?  You make a difference where you can.  Why not join us in our mission of raising a city of readers by:​

• Host a book drive! 
• Donate books! We accept new or gently used books from Infant to Young Adult. We don't accept encyclopedias, textbooks, magazines, or overly loved books. 
• I was becoming a member by stopping by the Book Bank by appointment!

Where and When

The Philly Book Bank is open by appointment. Our location is inside Martin Luther King High School, 6100 Stenton Avenue. You go to the Haines Street entrance closest to the dumpsters, call 215-279-7450, and we will come and let you in or pick up your donation.  

2021-2022 Hours of Operation:​

• Due to COVID restrictions, the Book Bank is open by appointment. **Following the School District of Philadelphia Calendar If you are interested in a membership, information is available at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe240FzpUpwEimkwAt2rnWhW9VBg-lKyLAfMcw2ch8BDVZguA/viewform. 
• Book Requests:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1Q1dkCJdICMHlIcH_OwTuC11-fh78STkwKrCoO-Dy8pgLJg/viewform?usp=sf_link 

We are accepting and distributing books! Contact anne@readingrecycled.org  or call 215-279-7450 for more information.

Interested in Becoming a Member?

Looking for extra books and supplies for your classroom? Come to the Book Bank! We hope you will utilize the Book Bank to help your classroom become a space where students foster their love of reading. Educator Memberships are $25 per school year. We are asking interested members to fill out the forms and make credit card payments online. Cash is accepted at the time of your appointment.