Donations

Donations are accepted Monday through Saturday, 11am to 3pm.
Please do not drop off books at other times when the store is closed.

All book donations in good condition are welcome, but we are unable to take:
DVD's - Cookbooks - Foreign Language
Encyclopedias - Harlequins
Readers Digest Fiction - Magazines
Coffee Table Books - Text books
Library discards - CD's - VHS tapes
No ripped, tattered or torn books please. We do not buy or trade books!
Books must be in bags, boxes, totes (which can not be returned). Loose books can not be accepted.
Please deliver donations to our warehouse door #14 in back of building.

Charitable organizations that provide manpower to run a weekend book sale receive the proceeds.
Contact us for details.

Scam Warning

Please be aware there are some scammers claiming to be from Books Between Friends offering to buy your books in the hope that you will give up your banking information. Books Between Friends does not buy books at all, we operate on book donations only. We also only sell our books in-store. Anyone offering to buy or sell books for Books Between Friends over the phone, by email, by messenger or other electronic means is not connected to Books Between Friends.
Donation

Some of the Charities we support:

  • Alberta Guide Dogs
  • Bethany Care Centre
  • Calgary Cerebral Palsy
  • Calgary Remand Centre
  • Calgary Veterans Food Bank

Pricing

Over 50,000 used books in stock!

Pockets Books $2
Hard Covers $4
Trade Size Soft Covers $3
Kids Books $1
Chapter Books $2

(unless specially marked)

See categories below


Autobiographies
Biographies
Business
Canadiana
Children's
Classics
Collectibles


Computers
Cooking
Crafts
Do-it-yourself
Fiction
Gardening
Health


History
Literature
Mystery
Politics
Religion
Romance
Science Fiction


Sports
Travel
True Crime
War
Women's Issues
Westerns
Young adults

Woman of Vision - Louise Nesterenko
FCPA, FCGA, BBA

Louise

Congratulations to Calgary CGA Woman of Vision, Louise Nesterenko, FCPA, FCGA, BBA

From The Calgary Herald

Olsen: These Books come from the Heart

In 2004 Louise Nesterenko had an idea about the size of a small bookshelf. She had wandered around garage sales and collected a bunch of used books. It was just enough to fill one small book case. Today that little idea has blossomed into rows and rows of shelves taking up 1,800 square feet of office space stacked with over 60,000 used books, and it has become precisely what Nesterenko hoped it would be: a place to share a love of reading but, more importantly, to help others.

Nesterenko is founder of Books Between Friends, an organization that takes in donations of used books and allows charitable groups to do the selling and reap the rewards. And the rewards can be significant. By Year 4 we were already giving $40,000 to different charities, says the 62-year-old Calgarian. One of the main recipients of the funds is Between Friends, an organization that offers social activities for people with disabilities. Some of those helped by the agency do volunteer work at the bookstore, and working alongside them inspires Nesterenko to keep going. It gives me encouragement to continue the program and it makes me feel really good. Just look at what they can do, she says.

The inspiration to make a difference comes from a personal place for Nesterenko. She watched her mother live with a physical disability and then die at a young age. It had a profound impact. Between her disability and raising her children as a single parent, Nesterenko's mother didn't have a chance to socialize much. My mother, she was very lonely all the time. In my heart I always felt that if my mom had a place to go when she was young, she wouldn't have died alone...she would have had friends.

Seeing the volunteers from Between Friends thrive while working in the used bookstore she created, and then being able to donate the funds raised to the good work of that organization, is a wonderful gift. You can't buy that and you can't give that to them. They have to understand it comes from themselves...they have earned it themselves.

That generous spirit extends to Nesterenko's husband and business partner. Working together, running ACC Cables, (Alberta Computer Cable Inc.) as well as several other businesses, he encouraged Nesterenko to follow her heart when it came to giving back. It really started because my husband Bob said: "I don't want you at work all the time. Find a hobby!" Now that hobby covers the back half of their business operation, with customers and volunteers coming and going through ACC's doors and straight into Nesterenko's heart. You have to believe that what you're doing is going to make a difference.

Nesterenko has faced some physical challenges of her own. She broke her leg twice, was forced into a wheelchair and had to learn to walk again, all while keeping her business and her bookstore running. So, with her undaunted spirit, running is what Nesterenko chose to do. She joined a local track club and got back on her feet. I'm very driven and very active...I don't like to sit still.

And the lives she has affected with her one small idea and enormous determination, and the stories of inspiration that come from that, could fill rows and rows of bookshelves.

Linda Olsen

Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

Upcoming Events

Used Book Sales for Charity.
All proceeds go to the Organization hosting the Event.

Happy Clients Says...

Great resource for English teachers looking to build a classroom library!
Melissa Thompson

“I love Louise's used bookstore, the warehouse is huge and the selection is great. In addition to leaving each time with an armful of books, I get to support an number of great non-profit agencies. What a great idea Louise - you rock!”

Heather O'Bray

“The best place in Calgary for books! I never go anywhere else. Great service, unbeatable prices, wonderful smiles!”

Joyce Stewart

“If you are a book worm, THIS is the place for you. Donate books, purchase books or both: whatever your pleasure.”

Roberta Travis

Location

Building




14, 3434 - 34 Avenue NE
Calgary, Alberta
403.291.3855


10am-4pm - Monday to Friday

10am-6pm - Saturday

Closed - Sunday