Text photos of your most-likely spines
A few clear photos — not the whole library. The titles you suspect might be worth something. Signed copies, fine bindings, regional NM titles, anything pre-1950. Six photos is plenty.
I rarely buy. The default is free pickup.
Most home libraries aren't worth buying. The honest answer.
I run a small, picky used-book operation. I buy only the very rare — signed firsts, regional NM firsts, fine bindings, antiquarian leather, scholarly papers with provenance, current STEM textbooks — and occasional whole-collection cleanouts where the price works for both sides. That's almost never a normal reading library. Text photos of your most-likely spines to 702-496-4214 and I'll tell you in minutes whether they're worth a visit. No pitch, no pressure. If the answer is no — which it almost always is — the right channel is free NMLP pickup. Same number, same person, same warehouse on Edith. Any condition, statewide, no charge, I do the loading.
- I buy rarely — specific rare titles or cheap whole-collection cleanouts
- Text photos first; quick honest yes or no, no drive-out unless it's worth it
- Most callers: free NMLP pickup, any condition, no work for you
Usually responds in under an hour
Honest answer in minutes. Free pickup if it's a no.
Most people who text photos get a polite "I'm not the right buyer for this batch — NMLP picks up free." That's the default. The exceptions are rare and we sort them by text first.
Honest yes or no by text
I respond by text with the truth: most batches don't fit my buying criteria, and I'll say so. For the very small slice that does — rare specifics, or a whole-collection cleanout where the price works for both sides — I'll set up a visit.
If no — the books still get handled
Free NMLP pickup is the default route for everyone whose books don't fit my buy criteria. Same number, same person, same warehouse. Children's books go to APS Title I and UNM Children's Hospital. The rest goes to a regional paper recycler I drive to personally. Nothing hits the landfill.
The narrow list of categories I sometimes buy from.
Even within these categories, most individual books don't make the cut. Text a photo of any specific spine you suspect and I'll tell you. The default for whatever I pass on is free NMLP pickup — same number, no work for you.
First editions & rare books
Hardcover firsts, signed copies, limited editions, fine bindings.
Whole collections
Personal libraries, estates, and lifetime accumulations.
Southwest & New Mexico
Hillerman, Anaya, Silko, Momaday, Pueblo & regional history.
Cookbooks
Vintage Americana, regional, James Beard, signed chef titles.
Children's & vintage
Golden Books, Sendak, Seuss, Little Golden, picture books.
Art & coffee-table
Monographs, museum catalogs, Taschen, photography folios.
Leather-bound sets
Easton Press, Franklin Library, antique matched sets.
Textbooks (UNM/CNM)
Current editions from UNM, CNM, SFCC, and NMSU programs.
I buy the books from these thrift stores every week. Might as well pay the customer instead.
Most folks call because they're stuck.
Whether it's a downsizing parent, an estate that's been sitting for months, or a closet you finally want your life back from — we make the books part easy.
Estate clear-out, Heights
"Before the Goodwill run"
"I didn't have the heart to throw Mom's books out."
Adult daughter clearing her mother's home before listing. Hundreds of books — nothing fancy — but she couldn't make herself take them to the dumpster. We came out, paid for what had resale value, took the kids' books to NMLP, and hauled the rest to the paper recycler ourselves. House cleared in one afternoon.
Rare find, Nob Hill
"Hidden in the pile"
A signed first edition in the 'give it all away' pile.
Client downsizing to a condo assumed everything was just old paperbacks. Three boxes in, we spotted a signed first edition of a regional New Mexico author — genuinely collectible. She walked away with a check for that single book plus fair cash for the rest. Kids' books went to NMLP; the adult overprints we hauled to the paper recycler ourselves. We know what we're looking at.
Storage unit, Westside
"Just make them gone"
Storage unit emptied in an afternoon.
Ten-year-old storage unit nobody had touched since 2014. Client was ready to rent a dumpster. We sorted on site, paid for the buyable portion, kept the kids' books for NMLP, and hauled the overprints to the paper recycler the same day. Unit closed out that week.
The honest version
Where the books I don't buy end up.
A big chunk of what people drop at Goodwill or Savers ends up trashed within a week — especially books. Donation bins are overwhelmed, shelf space is limited, and most of it gets pitched.
I also run New Mexico Literacy Project out of the same Edith Blvd shop. Children's books go there — and then out to kids, schools, and early-literacy programs across New Mexico. It's not a registered non-profit and it's not a charity. It's just the literacy side of what I do.
Everything else that can't sell — overprinted adult fiction, common reference sets, duplicates, anything too damaged to read — gets properly recycled as paper. I run the books through a hydraulic cutter to separate the binding from the text block, load the paper into a gaylord, forklift it into the van, and drive it to the recycler myself. Several times a week. That's the part most thrift stores quietly skip.
See the recycling operation →
For professionals
Estate attorneys, senior move managers, realtors — this is your book person.
If you're helping a client settle an estate, downsize into assisted living, or prep a home for sale, and the library is in the way — one call, I handle all of it. On-site evaluation at no cost, cash paid same day for what's worth buying, full clear-out of the rest. No landfill, no guilt, no second vendor to coordinate.
Get a quote
Tell us what you've got.
Honestly? Most people think their books aren't worth anything. Sometimes they're right. Sometimes there's a surprise in the pile. Either way we take them off your hands, and nothing ends up in the trash. Reply usually within the hour during business hours.
or call now
702-496-4214
Mon–Sat · 9am–6pm · Text anytime
Owner
A note from the owner
Here's the honest truth: I buy books from the thrift stores every week anyway. So when someone calls instead of dropping boxes at Savers, I just cut out the middleman and pay them. Same books, same warehouse, same outcome for what doesn't sell — it goes to the Literacy Project next door, and anything too damaged for a reader gets properly recycled. You get cash instead of a donation receipt. Nobody loses, and nothing gets trashed.
— Josh
Owner, SellBooksABQ · Albuquerque, NM
What a customer said
"Authentic, knowledgeable and very honest. He is not wanting to take advantage of you!! Truly a nice guy!"
Andy M.
Verified Google review · Albuquerque
Before you call.
I don't think my books are worth anything. Should I still call?
Yes — especially then. Most of what people bring us isn't rare. That's fine. We still come out and take the whole lot off your hands. Kids' books that can't sell go to New Mexico Literacy Project. Adult overprints and damaged material I haul to the paper recycler myself — hydraulic cutter for the bindings, gaylord in the van, several times a week. You avoid the Goodwill run, nothing ends up in a landfill, and every once in a while there's a pleasant surprise buried in there.
What if I have rare, first edition, or signed books?
That's where the pickup matters most. We identify first editions, signed copies, antiquarian books, regional New Mexico authors, and collectible material — it's a core part of what we do, not a side capability. If you think you might have something valuable (or you just aren't sure), call before donating. We'd rather look at it than have it end up mispriced at a thrift shop.
Is this really better than Goodwill or Savers?
For books, yes. Thrift stores are overwhelmed — a lot of donated books don't make it to the shelves and go straight to the dumpster. We either pay you for what's valuable, route kids' books through NMLP, or haul the overprinted and damaged material to a paper recycler ourselves. Nothing from our shop has ever hit a landfill.
Do you really come to my house?
Yes — free pickup across the Albuquerque metro, Rio Rancho, Corrales, Placitas, and the East Mountains. Works best for roughly 300+ books, but call us anyway if it's a unique situation. Smaller lots can drop off at our Unit A-2 warehouse on Edith Blvd NE.
How much do you pay?
Depends entirely on what you have. Common paperbacks earn less per book; hardcover firsts, signed copies, and scarce titles earn more. For estates and large collections we offer a fair bulk rate. We always show you the offer before you commit — no pressure, no hidden math.
How long does a home visit take?
Most home evaluations take 30–90 minutes. Large estates (1,000+ books) can take an afternoon. Cash offer before we leave.
Where we pick up.
Free pickup across the Albuquerque metro and into the surrounding communities. Not on the list? Call us — we travel for the right collection.
- Downtown Albuquerque
- Northeast Heights
- North Valley
- Los Ranchos
- Nob Hill
- Westside ABQ
- Rio Rancho
- Corrales
- Placitas
- East Mountains
- Santa Fe
- Bernalillo
- Los Lunas
- Belen
- Edgewood
- Tijeras / Cedar Crest