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Preparing Your Collection for a Recovery Pickup

A short checklist to help your team get ready for a smooth, fast book recovery pickup with no surprises.

James WhitfieldApril 5, 20261 min read

One of the best parts of book recovery is how little preparation it requires. Still, a few simple steps can make pickup day even smoother. Here's a quick checklist.

No Sorting Necessary

First, the good news: you don't need to sort, categorize, or screen your books. We accept entire collections as-is. This is the single biggest time-saver compared to traditional donation or resale routes.

Estimate Your Volume

A rough estimate of your collection size helps us bring the right vehicle and crew. You can count boxes, shelves, or pallets—precision isn't required, just a ballpark.

Common Volume Benchmarks

  • A standard banker's box holds roughly 25–35 books
  • A full library cart holds around 75–100 books
  • A standard pallet holds several hundred books

Clear an Access Path

If possible, stage the books near a loading area or accessible exit. This speeds up the pickup and minimizes disruption to your space and patrons.

Flag Anything Special

If your collection includes unusually heavy items, media, or fragile materials, let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly. There's no obligation to separate them—just a heads-up helps.

Relax on Pickup Day

Once we arrive, our team handles the loading. Your staff can carry on with their day while we take care of the heavy lifting, literally.

That's it. With almost no prep required, recovery fits neatly into even the busiest institutional schedule.