Donation Policy (Draft)

The Middlesex Library welcomes donations of books and other materials. Donated books are sometimes used to augment the Library's collections. They are also used for the Friends of the Library Book Sales if they are not added to the Library's collection.

Years of experience with donations and book sales have yielded insights as to what types of materials are useful and how Library staff can effectively manage donations. The Library is sincerely grateful for the generosity of individuals wishing to donate materials; however, experience has taught us that the following guidelines are necessary:

1. Gift materials are evaluated according to the Library's Collection Development Policy. No guarantee is made that any gift selected for the use in the Library's collection will be a permanent part of the Library's collection.
2. The Library reserves the right to use donations for the Library's collection or for the Friends of the Library Book Sales. If the material is determined to be inappropriate for either the collection or for the Book Sale, the Library reserves the right to discard it.
3. The evaluation and disposition of gift materials is the responsibility of the Library staff authorized by the Library Director.
4. Donations must be in acceptable physical condition. Items smelling of mildew will be refused. Such items should be discarded at home. Items which have yellowed or stained pages; are written in or have underlining; have broken spines; or are damp and musty cannot be accepted.
5. Donations of Local History materials are encouraged.
6. Textbooks are not accepted.
7. Encyclopedias are not accepted.

Receipts given to donors by the Library are limited to a general acknowledgment that a gift was received. Assignment of value for income tax or other purposes is the responsibility of the donor. The Library does not appraise materials nor endorse appraisals provided by donors.

The doner is responsible for delivering all donations to the donations area of the Library. Library staff cannot provide assistance in bringing donations into the Library.