Why do donations matter?
Libraries across the world perform a vital function in society by providing free education, entertainment, and opportunities for growth to all members of their community, including people in a variety of different social, economic, and educational situations. Providing services this vast require all manner of resources, not least of which are the books themselves.
Later on in this blog I will discuss the ins and outs of book purchasing in a library, but suffice it to say for now that the decision to choose one book over another is always a difficult one, and there are always more books that could be purchased. No library ever has the funding to purchase everything that could be useful to its community. Because of this, quality donations can be an important way that libraries maintain a thorough and useful collection for their community.
What could (and should) be donated to a library
Anyone would guess if asked that libraries could use donations of good books, but what else could a library use? You could donate your time by volunteering at your local library. Check you local library website or ask the staff for a list of other things like DVDs, CDs, or even items for their children's area.
When it comes to donating books, there are a few guidelines you can follow to make sure your donations will be used effectively:
Only donate new or like-new items. This might seem snobbish, but librarians work hard to keep the items in their collection in good shape for their users, and damaged items often will not sell in a library book sale. However good your intentions, damaged or worn items will likely end up costing the library more than they help. Consider recycling these books or using them for creative crafts.
Don't expect every item you donate to end up on the shelves. Librarians work hard to understand the needs of their communities and make sure that the library collections meet those needs. Consider that if you are trying to get rid of an item, others may not be interested in it for the same reason.
Remember that libraries are not the only place to donate books. Sometimes books that aren't right for your local library may help meet other needs elsewhere. Look through the list published by the American Library Association to see what other types of institutions will except donations.
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