Purpose
This policy provides guidelines for donating books and other materials to the Library. These guidelines define the criteria for accepting materials from the public.
Scope
Materials donated by the public will be evaluated based on the Cape Breton Regional Library’s Collection Development criteria and the item’s physical condition. Library staff decide whether the donated materials will be added to the collection, sold, given to another organization, or appropriately disposed of.
Patrons are encouraged to contact their local library branch before bringing in donations. Donations that the library chooses not to accept are the donor’s responsibility and cannot be left at the library.
Donations of print books, audiobooks, and DVDs are accepted at most branches of the Cape Breton Regional Library. The Library may refuse donations for reasons such as limited storage space, staff capacity, the condition of materials, and the type of materials donated.
All donated items become the property of the Cape Breton Regional Library. Donated materials will not be returned to the donor.
The Library is interested in donations of:
- Historical materials and documents pertaining to Nova Scotia and local history
- Recent bestsellers
- New editions of classic books
- Popular series
The Library does not accept donations of:
- Materials in poor condition (such as items that are musty, mouldy, water damaged, stained, written or drawn in, or otherwise damaged)
- Audiobooks, DVDs, etc., in which one part of the set (such as the tape or disc) is missing or damaged
- Encyclopedias
- Textbooks
- Reader’s Digest Condensed Books
- VHS or cassette tapes
- Magazines and journals
- Large numbers of items (e.g. multiple boxes of books at one time)
Other donations (e.g. donations of artwork, toys, or program materials) will be considered on an individual basis.
The Library does not issue tax receipts for donated materials.