How Do I Donate Items to the library?
Donation Policy
The Oxford Public Library (OPL) appreciates the many people who support their community and library by donating books, movies, and other materials. OPL will accept items in gently used condition including books, DVDs, magazines, puzzles, and items of local interest.
Gifts will be treated in the same manner as all other materials. This means:
Donated materials are screened by the same selection criteria as purchased materials.
Materials that are not added to the collection may be sold by the library, used as prizes or incentives, or donated elsewhere (other libraries, schools, etc.).
Upon request of the donor, OPL will provide a receipt for donated items to the donor. This receipt will be mailed or given to the donor after the seven-day quarantine of items. OPL cannot assign a value to the donations.
Any materials donated to the library become property of the library; materials will not be accepted based on a contingency. Example: the library cannot honor a patron’s request to have the materials returned if the library decides not to keep the donation.
The Oxford Public Library (OPL) appreciates the many people who support their community and library by donating books, movies, and other materials. OPL will accept items in gently used condition including books, DVDs, magazines, puzzles, and items of local interest.
Gifts will be treated in the same manner as all other materials. This means:
- All donations are subject to the Collection Development Policy criteria for selection
- The Library may refuse any material not deemed desirable
- Donated materials will be handled in the collection in the same way as materials purchased with public funds.
- When donated materials are deemed no longer useful, the library will discard them on the same basis that it discards other materials.
- Donations may be delivered during open hours. In the event that that library is not open, items should not be placed outside.
- Donors are encouraged to call ahead and make sure that we can accommodate the donation, especially if there are more items than would fit inside three standard-sized copy paper boxes. (Please call (256)831-1750, extension 6 or 9. Leave a message if staff is unavailable to answer immediately.)
- Items with any of the following issues will not be accepted:
- Dirt
- Mold
- Burning
- Water damage
- Damaged binding or pages
- Missing covers or pages
- Excessive writing, markings or highlighting
- Animal (or insect) feces or presence
- Cobwebs
- Animal damage, including, but not limited to smell, bite marks, or presence.
- Items stored in basements/attics/storage building for long periods of time with yellow or stained presence will likely not be accepted.
Donated materials are screened by the same selection criteria as purchased materials.
Materials that are not added to the collection may be sold by the library, used as prizes or incentives, or donated elsewhere (other libraries, schools, etc.).
Upon request of the donor, OPL will provide a receipt for donated items to the donor. This receipt will be mailed or given to the donor after the seven-day quarantine of items. OPL cannot assign a value to the donations.
Any materials donated to the library become property of the library; materials will not be accepted based on a contingency. Example: the library cannot honor a patron’s request to have the materials returned if the library decides not to keep the donation.