Shipping & FAQ

Will Kind Reads shipped orders be affected by the Canada Post strike?

No, we are shipping via UPS for the duration of the Canada Post strike.

What are your holiday hours?

Our distribution facility is closed from Monday December 23 2024 until January 1 2024 inclusive. During this time orders cannot be processed or picked up. Please place any holiday orders on or before December 6 and pick them up by 2pm on Saturday December 21. Happy holidays!

Does Kind Reads offer shipping options?

Yes, we ship anywhere within Canada that UPS ships. Please note that we do not offer international shipping.

Shipping is complimentary for orders totaling $75 or more. However, we kindly suggest opting for free order pickup or choosing a paid shipping method even if your order total is over $75. This way, a larger portion of your purchase directly supports the OPL, as it won't be absorbed by shipping fees on our part.

How long does it take for my order to be prepared?

Orders are fulfilled by volunteers working limited hours Monday through Saturday. After you place your order it takes 1-3 days for us to fulfill your order.

You will receive an email notification when your order has shipped or is ready for pickup.

How long does it take for my shipped order to arrive?

Typically between 2-5 days. This depends on where in Canada you are located, and whether you select Expedited Parcel or Xpresspost as your shipping method. The shipping notification email includes a Canada Post tracking number so you can track your order.

How much does shipping cost?

It varies. Our shipping costs are calculated by Canada Post based on your address and the books in your order. From your cart, continue to the checkout page to see the actual shipping charge for your order.

Does Kind Reads offer local pickup?

Yes, we have three free pickup locations:

James Bartleman Archives and Library Materials Centre, 100 Tallwood Drive, Nepean: This is our main distribution centre. To choose this option select Pickup at checkout. You will receive a notification when your order is ready for pickup. Pickup times are Monday through Saturday from 10am – 2pm except holiday weekends. Before coming, call 613-580-2424 x27875 to confirm we're open. On arrival, call us again from the parking lot & we'll bring out your order.

Bookends Beaverbrook, 2500 Campeau Drive, Kanata: Bookends Beaverbrook is a standalone store of the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library. To choose this option select Ship at checkout and shipping method Pick up at Bookends. It takes up to 5 business days to deliver your order, and you will receive a notification when it is ready for pickup. Pickup times are: Monday: 10:00am – 5:30pm; Tuesday: 10:00am – 8:00pm; Wednesday: 10:00am – 5:30pm; Thursday: 10:00am – 8:00pm; Friday: 10:00am – 5:30pm; Saturday: 10:00am – 4:00pm. To contact Bookends directly, call (613) 580-2400 x17349.

The Bookworm, OPL Cumberland, 1599 Tenth Line Road, Orléans: The Bookworm is a standalone store of the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library. To choose this option select Ship at checkout and shipping method Pick up at The Bookworm. It takes up to 5 business days to deliver your order, and you will receive a notification when it is ready for pickup. Pickup times are: Monday: 10:30am – 2:30pm; Tuesday: 10:30am – 7:30pm; Wednesday: 10:30am – 2:30pm; Thursday: 10:30am – 2:30pm; Friday: 10:30am – 2:30pm; Saturday: 10:30am – 2:30pm. To contact The Bookworm directly, call (613) 580-2424 x39896.

How long will you hold my order for pickup?

We will hold your pickup order for 30 days. If you have not picked up your order within 30 days of the pickup notification, the books are returned to our shelves and your payment is considered a donation to the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept major credit cards such as VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card. We also accept PayPal.

Purchases from Kind Reads show up as SP FRIENDS BOOKSHOP OTTAWA ON on your credit card statement.

Can I order a book and have it shipped to someone else?

Yes, you can enter someone else's name and address as the shipping details. The packing slip included in the shipped order never includes price information, which is good to know if you're sending this as a gift.

What is your return policy?

All sales at Kind Reads are final.

If you have received damaged, defective, or incorrectly shipped merchandise, contact us at ecommerce@fopla-aabpo.ca so that we can resolve your issue.

How do I report a problem with the website or my order?

What conditions are your books in?

All our books are in good condition or better. Many of our books are in excellent or like-new condition.

How do you source your books?

Kind Reads is operated by the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association (FOPLA). We receive donations of gently-used books from the general public and from the Ottawa Public Library. Every purchase benefits the Ottawa Public Library. For more information on how FOPLA supports the Ottawa Public Library, click here.

All books listed on Kind Reads are hand-curated by our dedicated volunteers to ensure high quality for our online customers. If a book is a former library book, this is indicated in the listing.

Can I donate books?

Yes! If you are in the greater Ottawa area, you can bring your donations to us.

For more information, check out our donation guidelines and where to donate.

Can I change or cancel my order?

If we haven't fulfilled your order yet, we may be able to help you modify or cancel your order. Contact us right away at ecommerce@fopla-aabpo.ca if you wish to do so. However, we cannot make changes to your order after it has shipped.

When is the online store closing?

The Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association (FOPLA) has made the difficult decision to close our online bookstore, Kind Reads. This announcement follows extensive internal deliberations and analysis of the online store's financial and operational viability.

The last date to place an order online is December 31, 2024. Kind Reads gift card codes will be honoured until June 30th, 2025 at 100 Tallwood Drive, Ottawa for in-person purchases during a monthly Mammoth sale or browsing appointment.

We are deeply grateful for customer and volunteer support of Kind Reads over the years. Although we are shutting the doors to our online store, we are excited to continue raising funds in support of the Ottawa Public Library through our used bookstores and sales across Ottawa.