How To Donate Books
Q: What do you do with the items I donate to you?
We look at the books and select those items that fill gaps in our collection, and we add those items to our collection.
Books not chosen for the collection are sorted and boxed up for our book sale or donated to other charities. The money earned at the book sale supports the Atheneum’s free programs and services.
Q: Why don't you add everything you are given to your collection?
Books that we choose to add to the collection must meet our regular selection criteria as outlined in our Collection Management Policy.
Sometimes the donated item doesn't meet these criteria -- it may contain dated information, it may be in poor condition, or it may not meet the information needs of our community.
Sometimes we have enough copies of the donated title, or enough information on the subject. If we can't use the item, we try to sell the item in the book sale, or donate it to others who have use for the item (schools, doctor's offices, other libraries, other countries).
Q: Can I get a receipt for the items I donate?
We are not able to quote a value for the items you give us, but upon request our Development office will send you a receipt on library stationery for the number of items donated and the date of donation.
Q: What kinds of items do you like to receive?
Most importantly, we like to receive current titles in excellent condition. Titles in poor condition do not hold up to library processing and circulation (think of the book drops!) These are the things we love to get:
- Current and former bestsellers in excellent condition, both fiction and nonfiction
- Hardback classics in excellent condition
- Fiction paperbacks in like-new condition
- Children's titles in good condition (sell well!)
- Really, really new unmarked textbooks (published in the last 3 years)
- Historical material related to Nantucket, Maritime
- Current travel (published in the last 2 years)
- Unabridged audio recordings, both fiction and nonfiction
- Business and language audiotapes
- Feature films from the last year -- purchased, not copied, with covers in good condition
- CDs - popular works
Q: What kinds of items can't you use?
Items in poor condition -- yellow pages, highlighted text, mildew odor, water damage
- Textbooks more than three years old
- Encyclopedias of any age
- Back issues or runs of magazines
- Condensed books
- Dated nonfiction
We can't add these items to our collection, and from experience we know that people won't buy them at the book sales.
This means that if you are bringing them to us because you don't have the heart to discard them, we just discard them for you, and you've wasted all that energy lugging the stuff to the library.
It's OK to discard books that have lived the good life, given you pleasure, but are no longer in demand or useful! Really.
Q: What do you do with items that are left over after the Book Sale?
Items not sold at the book sale are donated to other organizations that have use for the item -- schools, doctor's offices, other libraries, other countries. Q.
Q: Where do I bring the items I want to donate?
If you have a manageable number of items, they can be deposited in our book donation box located in the main entry foyer.
If you have a large number of items or need a receipt, please contact Amy Cabre at (508) 228-1110 x105. |
