This Hidden New York Bookstore Gives Away Free Books To Readers All Year Long

This bookstore in Brooklyn, New York started as a bike. The project began in October 2022, and its mobile book bike started handing out free books across Brooklyn in summer 2023.

That little bike still parks at the shop when it isn’t rolling around town. So the free books never really stop, even in winter. I love that a store in New York treats giving books away as part of the plan.

Every book on the shelves comes from a queer author. The space is run by volunteers, and masks are required for everyone. I appreciate a place that thinks this carefully about who feels welcome.

You can shop, borrow ideas, join a knitting circle, or just grab a free read. Honestly, how many bookstores let you leave with a book and keep your wallet closed?

A Bike Full Of Books Started This Whole Story

The Nonbinarian Bookstore & Book Bike began with two wheels and a big idea. Founded in October 2022, the Nonbinarian Book Bike began distributing free LGBTQIA2S+ books around Brooklyn by bicycle in summer 2023.

The bike headed to spots called book deserts. Those are areas where finding a bookstore, or a book that reflects your life, can feel nearly impossible.

The project worked as mutual aid, which means neighbors helping neighbors directly. No sales pitch, no strings, just stories handed to people who wanted them.

That kind of momentum doesn’t stay small for long. In 2024, the team opened a real storefront in Crown Heights, a neighborhood that had lost a bookstore before.

I find that origin story pretty charming. Most shops dream about expanding, but this one grew because a bicycle kept proving people wanted more books.

The bike still matters today. When it isn’t out making rounds, it stays at the shop, which keeps the giveaway going daily.

So when you visit, you’re stepping into the next chapter of a rolling library. The bike just finally found a place to park between adventures.

Free Books Are Waiting For You Every Single Day

Free books, all year, with no catch. That’s the headline promise, and it’s the real deal at The Nonbinarian Bookstore.

The book bike lives at the storefront when it’s off duty. That means you can pick up a free queer book right at the shop in any season.

Where do the books come from? The store gathers new and used titles through crowdsourcing, so the community fuels the whole stack.

Generosity runs both ways here too. The shop accepts new or gently used books by queer authors, in every genre, language, and age range.

Got a shelf at home bursting with finished reads? Bringing a few by could put them straight into another reader’s hands.

I’d love to know what shows up on any given day. A romance one week, a picture book the next, maybe poetry after that.

That unpredictability is half the fun. You walk out with something you didn’t plan for, and your bank account won’t even notice.

Honestly, a free book is the best kind of surprise. Think of it as a library card you never have to return.

Every Shelf Is Packed With Queer Voices

Here’s a fun browsing rule: every author on these shelves is queer. The store stocks only books by queer writers, both new and used.

That focus makes shopping feel refreshingly simple. You don’t have to hunt through a single small rainbow table in the back corner.

The mission aims to boost access and representation for queer stories at every age. There’s a special focus on affirming trans and gender non-conforming readers.

Kids, teens, and grown-ups can all find something. That range matters, because seeing yourself in a story early can change how you feel about yourself.

The selection mixes genres too. Fiction, nonfiction, and plenty in between give curious readers lots of directions to wander.

I appreciate a bookstore with a clear point of view. It feels curated by people who care, not by a computer guessing your taste.

Need a gift for a friend who reads everything? Starting here gives you a strong chance of finding a title they’ve never spotted elsewhere.

And if you’re new to queer lit, ask for a suggestion. Volunteers know these shelves well, so a recommendation is one question away.

Your Gift List Might Get Solved In One Stop

Books are the star, but the supporting cast is strong. The shop also sells gifts from queer vendors and local art by queer makers.

That turns a quick book run into a gift hunt. Birthday coming up? A card, a pin, or a print could save the day.

Small handmade goods carry a personal touch. They also keep money flowing to independent artists in the community.

The store hands out giveaways too, like bookmarks, stickers, and pins. Who doesn’t secretly love a free sticker for their water bottle?

I’d probably leave with something I never meant to buy. Cute little items have a sneaky talent for jumping into your hands.

Local art also gives the room personality. Instead of generic posters, you see work made by real people from the queer community.

Pairing a book with a small handmade extra makes a thoughtful present. It shows you picked something with care, not just grabbed a gift card.

So bring a list, or bring none at all. Either way, the shelves and tables make last-minute shopping feel a lot less stressful.

Knitting Circles And Clothing Swaps Fill The Calendar

A bi-wives knitting circle in a bookstore? Yes, and it’s only one entry on a lively events lineup.

The Nonbinarian Bookstore hosts workshops, gatherings, and community programs. T4T clothing swaps let trans folks trade outfits with each other.

Social mixers have made the schedule too. Talk about meeting someone who already shares your taste in books.

Community art markets showcase local makers. Queer writers’ workshops give aspiring authors a supportive place to share their pages.

The variety keeps things fresh. One week might lean creative, while the next feels social and chatty.

Events here focus on accessibility, which fits the store’s whole approach. The goal is making it easier for more people to join in.

I love that a bookstore can double as a craft room and a meetup spot. It keeps people coming back for more than shopping.

Plans change, so check the store’s social pages before you go. That way you can catch the swap or workshop that sounds most like you.

Who knows, you might arrive for a novel and leave with a new scarf pattern.

A Hangout Spot Where Nobody Pushes A Menu

Plenty of hangouts expect you to order something. This one simply asks you to show up as yourself.

The store aims to be a third place for the queer community. That’s a gathering spot outside home and work.

It doesn’t center on food or drinks. You can linger, chat, or read without buying a snack to earn your seat.

Cost shouldn’t keep anyone away, and the free books help make that real. The space runs on mutual aid, queer liberation, and disability justice.

It’s collectively run and powered by volunteers. The owners are trans, disabled, and Asian, which shapes the store’s caring approach.

Free resources are part of the plan too. The store aims to offer masks, rapid tests, hand sanitizer, and period products.

I think that combination feels thoughtful. Supplies and stories sit side by side, all meant to help people feel cared for.

Spots like this are rare in a busy city. Having somewhere calm to just exist can mean a lot.

So grab a book, find a chair, and take your time.

Masks On Means Everyone Gets To Browse

Mask rules stay firm at this store, for everyone. Customers, volunteers, and event guests all keep them on.

That policy comes straight from disability justice values. It helps people with health concerns visit without worrying about their safety.

Forgot yours? The shop aims to keep free masks on hand, so you won’t get stuck at the door.

Hours can shift for safety reasons too. Volunteer health considerations or private events sometimes change the schedule.

I respect a business that sticks to its values this clearly. It tells visitors exactly what to expect before they arrive.

Many places quietly dropped these measures years ago. Here, keeping them is part of making the space open to more people.

Think of it as a small favor for your fellow readers. A few minutes of masking lets everyone enjoy the shelves together.

Families, immunocompromised friends, and cautious shoppers all benefit. Nobody has to choose between their health and a good book.

So pack a mask with your tote bag. Then relax and browse, because the room was planned with you in mind.

Your Purchase Can Gay It Forward To Someone Else

One of the cleverest ideas here comes with a pun. It’s called gay it forward, and it lets shoppers sponsor free books.

Customers can buy books specifically for giveaway. Those titles then go out through the store and the book bike.

It’s simple generosity with a big reach. Your purchase might land with a teen discovering their identity or an adult seeking comfort.

The store also runs a membership program. Members help build a sustainable future so the space and resources stay available.

Small community spaces need steady support to keep their doors open. Memberships turn occasional fans into longtime backers.

I like how both options feel hands-on. You can see where your help goes instead of tossing money into a mystery pot.

Not ready to commit? Buying a book or gift still keeps things running in a meaningful way.

Every option feeds the same goal of wider access to queer stories. That’s a pretty satisfying reason to shop.

So next time you buy a book for yourself, consider adding one for a stranger.

Plan Your Crown Heights Stop With These Easy Details

Finding the shop is easier than picking just one book. The Nonbinarian Bookstore sits at 1130 President St, Brooklyn, NY 11225.

It’s in Crown Heights, a Brooklyn neighborhood that earned its own bookstore again. Locals had once called the area a book desert.

The doors open daily from noon to 7 pm. That schedule works for lunch breaks, weekend wandering, or a quick after-school stop.

Hours may change for volunteer safety or private events. Checking the store’s social pages before heading over can save you a wasted trip.

Out-of-towners visiting New York can fit it into a Brooklyn day easily. It’s a welcome change from the crowded spots in Manhattan.

Bring a tote bag for your finds. Free books and impulse stickers add up faster than you’d guess.

I’d plan a relaxed visit rather than a rushed one. Browsing feels better when you aren’t watching the clock.

Few places in New York give away books as a daily habit. This corner of Brooklyn does, and that alone makes it worth the detour.