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May 2024 by Ashe Zombie
Books are the cornerstone of humanity! This is amazing!
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May 2024 by krystal thomas
Always great browsing the free bookstore! They've expanded so much over the years.
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November 2023 by Carolyn C.
The mission: "To put unwanted books into the hands of those who want them." I adore The Book Thing. I have been a loyal monthly patron and will continue to do so. The books are absolutely free, no strings attached, FREE! And to top it off, you can take as much as you can carry out. I love exploring different genres and with my vast interests, purchasing books can be expensive not to mention terrible for the environment. I will always search the shelves at The Book Thing or go to a secondhand bookstore before purchasing newly printed books (if you can't get to The Book Thing take a look at ThriftBooks.com). The Book Thing is NOT OPEN DAILY. It is a monthly event that typically falls on the second full weekend of the month, and it alternates between Saturday and Sunday. They announce the exact dates on their website and Facebook page. If you are interested in donating books, please take the time to check their website for the exact days that you can drop off. Book donation hours are 9am-2pm on the designated days. The donation limit is 6 boxes per family. Boxes must be small enough that one person can lift them when full. They accept all types of books except encyclopedia sets. All donations are tax-deductible. We can provide a donation receipt on request reflecting the number of books donated. We also issue receipts for financial donations. Please do not leave books or boxes outside of their donation hours, you may be cited by the City for illegal dumping!
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October 2023 by Arjumand Faruqi
There were many many fiction books but if you're into fiction books that aren't classics and are written by writers of today then it's not for you. There were also science books, study material for exams, magazines, and stationery too.
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October 2023 by Nashika Booker
I love the book thing. They have just about every book you can think of. I have some books to donate as well.
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September 2023 by Toni Tone
Have been visiting this place for over 5 years! Absolutely one of my favorite places to go! Unfortunately they only do book giveaways once a month now but it's still not a big issue and doesn't take away from the wonderful experience the community and I receive. I had to take one star off because one of the volunteers always seems to have an attitude. The last 2 times I've been which was Aug and Sept she's seemed irritated! The other volunteers have been absolutely wonderful tho! It's a small space and sometimes get crowded I'm certain areas but they do a pretty good job at controlling the amount of folks inside! Either way we will be back next month! Would highly recommend!
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September 2023 by Nicole
You should definitely go at least once if you're in the area. I found it refreshing that they provide exactly what is advertised in a friendly and efficient way. The selection is ok. It's great if you need books for a child or have a business where you need books and aren't picky. I 100% recommend coming here within the past hour before closing. It's easy to find parking by then and very little crowds. I drove past two hrs before closing and couldn't find parking. It was so crowded then.I wouldn't recommend this place to someone who only reads specific genres like sci-fi or mystery because it's just not that kind of book place. It's good if you're the type who's open to reading various things.
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August 2023 by Morgan J
Once a month this is the most exciting place in the city. Free books, all you can carry! Great selection spanning several genres. Expect to wait in line for at least a few minutes as they only let people in, in waves of 100 every hour. Everyone is line is always delightful to talk to, the employees are kind, and them limiting people inside keeps it from being too crazy.It’s a fantastic experience and opportunity. Can’t recommend it enough
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July 2023 by Jbl B.
Book Thing of Baltimore has a great variety of free books that you can choose from. You are guaranteed to find something for each of your family members! This is a very good resource to have if you want a good book to read without having to purchase it! It is open once a month so make sure to check out their webpage for details of upcoming opening dates! You can also donate books that you are done reading!
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July 2023 by Namaste Namaste
It’s a mystery what you will find.Only open once a month currently so the lines can be extremely lengthy, by lengthy I mean, wrapping around the building all the way to the food bank.You can leave with some really great finds, so if you don’t mind the wait, it’s worth it.
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July 2023 by Brittany Marxen
They aren't open often, but have so many books to consider! We left with 80 books... They also take donations, books and money, if you're looking to unload or pay it forward
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June 2023 by LeAnn Hanna
Great! I was able to go throught twice very quickly since there was no line.
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June 2023 by Jody C.
5 stars for FREE books!! Issues though... 1. Parking is terrible. There's a huge lot, why can't people park there? 2. While other businesses are open to pre-COVID days/times, Book Thing is only open once per month...not every Saturday/Sunday like they used to be. 3. Waiting in line with limited entries and timed format takes forever. 4. It's not a library. People shouldn't be allowed to sit on the floor taking up space to read their books. Do that at home. No one wants to step over people. 5. Expand the Children's section. parents and kids cramped in the corner. Seems like if the number of days per month were expanded and people could come and go as they please, more people would visit the Book Thing.
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April 2023 by Julia
It's totally worth the drive! You never know what books you'll find!
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April 2023 by Raghavi A.
I'm thrilled that my friend introduced me to the wonder that is The Book Thing! (K - if you're reading this, thank you!)I visited for the second time this past Saturday for this month's book giveaway. I arrived around 10:30 AM and waited in line for about a half-hour and was part of the group of 80 folks they let in. Despite 160 people having gone in before me, there were an ample number of books, mixed media, magazines (and more!) in every section and every room. Volunteers were restocking shelves just as fast as books were flying off of them. I left with a full tote bag and both my hands full of some incredible reads (I can't wait to dig in!). The process at The Book Thing is so smooth and the volunteers are so kind and enthusiastic! The 'The Book Thing' community is a supportive one! Some tips:- The website announces dates in advance-- pencil 'em in on your calendar (or use a permanent marker to really seal in that commitment!). You can also check the times for the book donations. I also recommend reviewing the website to understand how it works.- The morning crowd at 9 AM is the busiest; in fact, one of the volunteers said people start lining up at 7:30 AM! The afternoon is the least busy.- There is free parking a few blocks over from The Book Thing. Don't park in the lot or you might get towed.- Each colored room is grouped by genre. Check out the legend ahead of time, especially if you're looking for something in particular. Thanks to The Book Thing for a fabulous way to spend a Saturday! I look forward to coming back soon!
