5 Places in El Paso to Find Free or Affordable Books

Raise your hand if you’ve also fallen into the trap of buying new and overpriced books for your kids. I blame it on the esthetically pleasing pictures of reading nooks I saw on Pinterest . . . and partially on my need to compulsively overbuy things when I was pregnant.

But I am happy to inform you that I have since saved hundreds of dollars while creating a Pinterest-worthy reading nook for my kids.

So what’s the secret? Buying secondhand!

And let me tell you, saving money is just one of the many benefits of buying books secondhand. A used book costs a fraction of the price of a new one, which means you can buy more and build a bigger and more diverse library.

I’ve found that having more options encourages my children to want to read and has helped promote a love of reading in our home. And not only is buying secondhand better for your wallet and your library, but it is also better for the environment.

Here are five places you can find free or affordable books for children (and adults) here in El Paso.

Savers

Savers is a for-profit thrift shop with a great selection of secondhand books. Both the East and Westside locations offer a buy 4 get the 5th book free deal.

East Side
1700 N Zaragoza Rd #161
El Paso, TX 79936

West Side
6600 N Mesa St #101
El Paso, TX 79912

Books Are Gems

Books Are Gems is a non-profit bookstore that provides free books to children and educational resources to homeschooling parents and teachers. Children can select one brand-new book and six used ones each month. That’s 84 free books a year!

7744 North Loop, Suite B
El Paso, TX 79915

Little Free Library

Little Free Library is a non-profit book exchange that provides free and easily accessible books. You can take a book, exchange a book, or share a book at any of the Little Free Library boxes found around El Paso. To find a Little Free Library near you, check out the little free library world map on their website.

Facebook Marketplace

I have found some amazing deals on secondhand reads on Facebook Marketplace. These deals go very fast so the trick is to check regularly for new sale posts.

Friends of the Library

Friends of the Library are nonprofit bookstores located inside various libraries throughout El Paso. All proceeds from sales go directly towards supporting the libraries. The bookstores sell books of all genres for adults and children.

I visited the friends of the northeast library where items ranged from 1 to 5 dollars. Three dollar mystery bags are also available as well as half-off carts.

Please comment below if you know of any other places to score free or affordable books in El Paso. And don’t forget to also donate your old books to any of the places listed above.

Originally published January 2022.

The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of El Paso Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.