Give your books a
new story!
The Book Rescue Program has created a model to help anyone keep books out of landfills and recycling centers by distributing them to charities and community organizations.
Perfect for students, clubs, libraries, schools, churches, scout troops, nonprofits, neighborhood groups, and anyone interested in strengthening their community and creating sustainable change.
Host as many Book Rescues as you want. Have them in different locations. Choose where your donated items go. Keep books out of landfills and give them a second life!
Want to start a Book Rescue in your city?
We look forward to supporting you. The Book Rescue Project was designed as a model that other communities can adapt and use on their own.
To request our Book Rescue Starter Guide, please fill out our interest form. We share the full guide directly rather than posting every detail publicly so we can support organizers, answer questions, learn where new Book Rescues are happening, and stay connected as the Book Rescue Project community grows.
If you're ready to get started, we'd love to hear from you!
Successful Launch of Glendale Book Rescue
The Book Rescue Project made its public debut at the Glendale Earth Day Fair at Verdugo Park. After securing a booth from the Glendale Office of Sustainability, Felix got to work publicizing, getting the community engaged, and building support.
We were thrilled to partner with Access Books, Re-Book It, Children's Book Recycling Center, and L.A. County Books for Jails. Learn more about them here.
What started as a small stream of neighbors' books arriving in Felix's garage grew into more than 40 overflowing boxes. Glendale Book Rescue diverted nearly 1,000 pounds of books and media from landfills—items that will now be put to good use and enjoyed.
Assemblymember Nick Schultz visited!
Glendale City Councilmember Dan Brotman stopped by!
Thank you to Nora Karakashian in the Glendale Office of Sustainability for letting us participate!
More Glendale Book Rescues are being planned for 2026! Stay tuned for details, and follow us on Instagram.
Glendale Book Rescue
Participating Organizations
Free community service provided by The Last Bookstore, one of the last remaining independent booksellers in Los Angeles. Provides used books for local libraries, charities, hospitals, schools, and victims of the 2025 L.A. fires.
Provides new and gently used, high-interest K-5 and Young Adult books to underserved school libraries.
Community service provided by L.A. children's bookstore Children's Book World. Provides used new and gently used books to literacy programs and organizations serving toddlers and young children in low-income communities throughout Southern California.
Keeps books out of landfills and gives them a second life while improving literacy and providing learning/reading materials for those incarcerated in Los Angeles County Jails.
Media/News
Discover who's talking about our commitment to sustainability and literacy.
COMING SOON!
Felix Fey
Felix is a high school junior and the founder of the Book Rescue Project, an initiative he created after recognizing three connected needs—people often have used books to give away, local libraries frequently can't accept them because they already have excess books of their own, and many literacy-focused organizations in his area need donated books. Seeing an opportunity to connect all three, he developed the Book Rescue Project to keep books in circulation and out of landfills.
Whether working as a Restoration Volunteer Supervisor for TreePeople, volunteering with Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy and the Glendale Trails and Open Space program, or serving as a Student Commissioner on the Glendale Sustainability Commission, Felix works to get other young people involved in projects that make a meaningful difference.
After a successful debut in his hometown at the Glendale Earth Day Fair, he hopes to inspire student-led Book Rescues in cities across America.