Our Big Idea on how to support and empower our community
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can we schedule a field trip to your store?
Yes! Schedule your class, daycare or summer camp to visit The Big Free Bookstore or inquire about a unique programmed learning experience! Our field trips are also perfect for homeschool families. Please note a minimum of 5 students must attend for unique/curated visits. Small families and individuals are encouraged to visit The Big Free Bookstore as a guest!
Where Is the store located?
The Big Free Bookstore is located at JANAF Shopping Yard in Norfolk, Virginia. We are in the ALPHA section of JANAF between Woodcraft and BJ’s Tire.
what’s the catch?
There is no catch. We have all felt the impact of the last few year. With so many uncertainties, we wanted our community to know that no matter what, quality books and educational literature would be readily available to them at no cost. That’s it.
What are the rules?
We ask customers to use the honor code system by following these guidelines:
Two books new and two used per person, per household (not all members of the household need to be present).
Visit up to two times per week.
Donate when you can to support our program.
Tell people about us!
We ask that customers not shop for their extended families (but definitely encourage them to come see us!) classrooms/daycares/youth serving initiatives (don’t worry, we have another awesome program for this), or to sell and/or destroy.
Do you carry books for all ages?
Inline with our mission to promote children’s literacy, the majority of our books range from young adult novels all the way down to baby books! We do have a small adult contemporary section, because we know one of the best ways to get kids to read is to have them see their loved ones reading!
Do you accept donations?
Yes! Monetary donations are never expected, but graciously accepted! It’s expensive to give things away for free! Your support helps us pay for general operations such as rent, utilities, resources, and our dedicated staff. Don’t worry, we maximize every donation made to our organization with more than 97% going directly to our programs. Can’t make a monetary contribution but still want to make a HUGE impact? Here are a few FREE things you can easily do that generate support:
Like us on social media (@reachreads & @thebigfreebookstore)
Share our page, posts, fundraisers, and events
Use our hashtags #TheBigFreeBookstore #LiteracyisfREADom #REACHreads
Subscribe to our mailing list
Tell your friends and family about us
Donate gently loved books
Hold a book drive
Talk to your company about making a corporate gift
Encourage city officials to support our initiative in your city
Do you accept book donations?
Yes! We are always accepting new and gently used books. You can bring these to our store whenever we are open. We do ask that if you have a large donation you give us a call to schedule ahead. We also LOVE new school supplies :)
Are there books or resources you do not accept?
We love books of all different shapes, sizes, topics, and genres. While we wish we could take them all, we do ask that following be excluded from your donations:
retired encyclopedias
magazines (comics are ok!)
bibles and other religious texts
out of date textbooks or reference materials
books in poor condition (highly marked in, broken spines, missing covers, water damaged, etc.)
used craft and school supplies
When are you open?
Starting March 2023, the bookstore will be open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-7pm and CLOSED Sunday and Monday’s.
how are you funded?
The Big Free Bookstore is currently funded by our community. We are seeking corporate partnerships, government support, collaborative grants, and other opportunities to create a sustainable and reproducible model that supports all equitably. Please reach out if you have ideas!