Frequently Asked Questions

Can I choose who will receive my donated books?
Can I donate non-SF books (such as fantasy or horror)?
Can I donate books that are damaged or in poor condition?
Can I donate movies on VHS or DVD?
What will my monetary donation be used for?
Is my donation tax deductible?

Can I choose who will receive my donated books?

Sure! If you'd like, you can look through our current list of interested recipients and select the person or group whom you would like to receive your donation. Note, however, that sometimes a specific recipient may not be interested in a particular donation; in such cases, AboutSF may redirect your contribution.

If you do not specify a recipient, AboutSF will use its own discretion to forward your donation to the recipient with the greatest need.

Can I donate non-SF books (such as fantasy or horror novels)?

AboutSF distributes science fiction, fantasy, and horror novels and magazines, including texts that contain speculative elements but are not labeled as science fiction. We do not distribute books in other genres (such as mystery or romance). If you'd like to donate books from those genres to young readers, please consider contacting your local library!

Can I donate books that are damaged or in poor condition?

Generally, yes, although AboutSF cannot accept books that are missing their covers. Be aware that some recipients (such as public or academic libraries) may have their own guidelines as to what condition their books must be in, so damaged books may not be eligible for donation to those institutions.

Can I donate movies on VHS or DVD?

At this time, AboutSF is not distributing donated movies.

What will my monetary donation be used for?

Money contributed to the AboutSF Literature Donations project will be used solely to purchase texts for donation and to transport those texts to qualified recipients. For instance, we may use the money to purchase a subscription to a science fiction magazine for a library, or we may use it to pay the shipping for books donated to a school.

Funds donated to this project will not be used for any other purpose, nor will they be used to pay for staff, overhead, or other administrative expenses -- 100% will go directly to getting SF literature into the hands of young people.

Is my donation tax deductible?

Monetary donations are tax deductible. Simply request a receipt for tax purposes when you send your check. For more information on how to donate, click here.