Thank you for thinking of the Library and for supporting our mission to provide a welcoming, relevant, and well‑cared‑for collection for our community. We value the generosity of our donors and offer the following guidelines to help ensure that book donations align with our collection needs, available space, and staff capacity.
Book Donation Policy
The Library accepts book donations that support our mission and meet the same selection standards used for purchased materials. These guidelines are consistent with widely accepted public‑library best practices and help us steward donated items responsibly.
General Principles
- Donations are accepted at the discretion of the Library.
- All donated materials become the property of the Library upon acceptance.
- Donated materials are evaluated using the same criteria as purchased materials, including condition, relevance, currency, and community interest.
- The Library cannot guarantee that donated items will be added to the collection.
Donation Arrangements
- Book donations must be approved in advance or accepted during designated times, as determined by library staff.
- Donations must be brought inside during open hours.
- For the safety of staff and patrons, items may not be left on the porch, outside the building, or placed in the book drop.
Items left unattended may be declined, recycled, or discarded if they are unsuitable or unsafe to process.
Materials the Library May Accept
The Library may occasionally accept:
- Popular fiction and nonfiction, cookbooks, children’s books and others that may be of interest to library patrons or visitors
- Items in excellent, clean condition, free of damage, mold, or strong odors
- Popular DVDs
Acceptance depends on current collection needs, available space, and staff capacity.
Materials the Library Cannot Accept
The Library is unable to accept:
- Books with yellowing pages, water damage, mold, or a musty smell
- Materials stored in basements, attics, garages, sheds, or unheated cabins
- Textbooks, magazines, outdated encyclopedias, dictionaries, and thesauri
- Audiobooks and music CDs
- Materials in poor, unsafe, or unsanitary condition
These items cannot be safely added to the collection or reused by the Library.
Evaluation and Disposition of Donations
All accepted donations may be:
- Added to the circulating or reference collection
- Used for programs, displays, or outreach
- Rehoused or gifted to partner organizations or little free libraries
- Offered to other libraries or nonprofit organizations
- Recycled or discarded if they are not usable
The Library reserves the right to determine the use or final disposition of all donated materials. Items added to the collection may later be withdrawn due to wear, damage, or changes in relevance.
Large or Special Donations
Because of limited space and staff capacity:
- Donations that require extensive sorting, storage, or special handling will be declined
- Donations with restrictions on use, retention, or display cannot be accepted
Receipts and Valuation
- Written acknowledgments of receipt are available upon request.
- The Library cannot assign monetary value to donations.
- Donors are responsible for obtaining any appraisals needed for tax purposes.
Other Options for Used Books
If your books are not a good fit for the Library, there are many other excellent ways to give them a second life.
Local Options
- Local thrift stores often welcome popular books in clean, good condition.
- Little Free Libraries around town are a wonderful way to share books with neighbors.
- Recycling at the transfer station is available free of charge for books that are damaged or outdated. Please remove hard covers before recycling.
Online Resale Options
Some newer or popular titles may have resale value through large online services:
- BookScouter – Lets you scan ISBN barcodes and compares buyback offers from multiple major book buyers.
- World of Books – Accepts bulk shipments of selected ISBN‑based titles and offers free shipping for accepted items.
Availability and pricing depend on the title, edition, and condition of the book; not all books will be accepted.
