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Gifts and Donations

Gifts and Donations

Members of the community are encouraged to support the mission of the Chetco Community Public Library through gifts in the form of materials or financial support. Monetary gifts, bequests, and memorial or honorary contributions are particularly welcome. Notification of memorial or honorary contributions will be sent to the family of the person being recognized when possible.

All gifts to the library are tax deductible as charitable donations. Upon request, staff will provide you with a dated receipt for income tax purposes. Staff cannot estimate the monetary value of material donations but will indicate the number of containers donated (eg; 3 boxes or 2 bags, etc.). If the donor requires more detail for tax purposes, it is recommended that they count the items or make an itemized list prior to bringing their donation to the library.

Donations of Books, Audiovisual Materials, and other Library Materials

Donated materials may be added to the library collection, sold by the Friends of the Library to support library programs and services, given away, or discarded, as determined by library staff.

Donations should be brought into the library during open hours in boxes or bags that can be left at the library. Do not leave donations outside the library, in the book drop, or in containers that must be emptied and returned. These donations cannot be accepted, and books left outside will be discarded. Please call the library in advance if you wish to bring in a large number of boxes or will need assistance bringing the donated materials in.

The library reserves the right to decline donations if space is not available, if the donations do not appear to meet our guidelines, or for any other reason. We are unable to accept any material donations during book sales.

We welcome:

  • Hardcover and paperback books in excellent condition
  • Commercially published media (DVDs, CDs, Audiobooks, records)
  • Magazines published within the last 2 years
  • Local history or genealogy material that has direct relevance to Curry County (decisions will be made on a case by case basis)

We will not accept:

  • Materials that exhibit signs of smoke, mold, mildew, pests, or water damage, or which have any odor; or stored in boxes that exhibit those signs
  • Materials with torn, worn, yellowed, brittle, loose, or otherwise damaged pages, covers, or bindings
  • Boxes that have been stored in a damp or unprotected environment, or have been moved directly from long term storage to the library without being thoroughly inspected by the donor
  • Outdated nonfiction materials, condensed books (Reader’s Digest), encyclopedias, reference books, textbooks, law books, advanced reader proofs, or workbooks
  • Professional Journals or other items oriented toward academic use
  • Magazines older than 2 years; newspapers or product catalogs of any type/date
  • VHS tapes or cassettes; music CDs not in their original cases
  • Self-published materials (exceptions may be made for works reviewed in established review journals or magazines, or works with local interest that meet the collection development policy)
  • Items that have been withdrawn from our library collection and sold previously

Art Donations

Overall the Chetco Community Public Library has limited space for the display and storage of art, and therefore it is important for us carefully consider the acceptance of a piece of art for long-term loan or as a gift. The Library has no obligation to accept, display, or maintain any items donated to us. The selection criteria used to evaluate each item will be style, quality, durability, installation and maintenance costs, public liability, and relevance to the community or library as a whole.

Decisions about the acceptance of art donations will be made by the Director. If accepted, the Director will provide the donor with a letter of acceptance to be signed. The donor is required to accept the

library’s terms and conditions, including the following:

  • All gifts must be unconditional, transferring ownership and all rights of ownership to the Chetco Community Public Library District
  • Gifts are accepted only with the understanding that the library has the right to determine retention, location, and other considerations relating to the use or disposal of the donated gift

Other Donations

Special Collections: Themed collections of materials are unlikely to be accepted unless they hold particular local relevance or can be easily sold by the Friends of the Library. Decisions about accepting collections will be made by the Director in consultation with other relevant parties.

Recognition Gifts: The library welcomes monetary gifts given in the name of individuals or organizations for the purpose of purchasing materials. Library staff will choose items which accommodate the donor’s preferences whenever possible. The name of those being recognized will be affixed to the material.

Real estate or other personal property: The library may accept gifts of real property that support the mission of the Library. Such offers will be handled by the Director, who will consult with the Board of Directors to determine the suitability of the gift and the terms of acceptance compatible with the library’s mission and policies, the donor’s intent, and applicable laws.

Any other donations not addressed in this policy will be addressed on a case-by-case basis by the Director.

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