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LIBRARY PROVIDES TIPS FOR DONATING ITEMS

At about 5 pm on Saturday, August 5th, someone placed a box of old books, magazines, and videos beside the library's curbside book drop. Trouble is, the staff didn't know. And shortly after the library closed at five, it rained.

The soggy box and wet contents were discovered on Sunday afternoon when the staff arrived. Needless to say, everything was damaged and went into the dumpster.

Now before you say, "Maybe the donor should have put the stuff inside the book drop," let me remind readers that the book drop is NOT for donations. It is solely for the return of library materials when either it's not convenient for patrons to bring them inside the building or when the library is closed. (We get yelled at when the book drop is so full of donations, people can't return their books on time.)

We do appreciate donations of books and AV materials, and we often accept gifts. But since the library can't accept everything (including items individuals don't have the heart to throw out themselves), a donation policy is now available at the circulation desk. It contains some helpful information.

For example, we can't use books with yellowed, torn, worn, water-damaged, moldy or mildewed pages. (Yes, we've actually been given
some.) Don't want items that are soiled or infested with or showing damage from insects or rodents, either. (Yep-we've gotten them, too.)

Even for a book fair we can't use encyclopedias over five years old; Readers Digest condensed books; record albums; National Geographic or Readers Digest magazines.

We can accept new or used books, CDs, DVDs, VHS, or cassettes that are clean and in good condition. Textbooks published within the past three years and magazines issued within the past year are also welcome.

If you have more than one box, please call us, and someone can meet you at the delivery door at the back of the library. That way you can avoid the long front sidewalk. However, it's not easy to accept donations on Sunday afternoons because the few staff members available are all helping patrons at the circulation desk.

Sturdy boxes (ones you don't need back) that are small to medium size and paper sacks work well and are easily transported and handled. No trash bags, please. And remember: I have no weight lifters on the staff. (Lots of nice grandma-types, though.)

So the next time you want to make a donation of any kind to the library, we'll be eternally grateful if you pick up a copy of the donation policy first. Librarians really hate to see wet books.

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