Oxford Public Library
  • Home
  • Services
    • Other Services
    • Online Resources
    • Mobile Printing
    • Community Room
    • Curbside
    • NoveList
    • Literacy
    • Staff
    • Health Resources
    • Policies
  • Ebooks
    • More Digital Content
  • How Do I....?
    • Access My Library Account
    • Become a Library Volunteer?
    • Get a Library Card
    • Place a Hold
    • Renew
    • Replace My Lost Card
    • Request a Library Tour
    • Request a Program
    • Request Materials for Purchase
    • Reserve a Study Room
    • Return Materials
    • Search for a Title
    • See New TItles?
    • Use a Library Computer
    • Donate Items
  • Children/Teens
    • Discover Series
    • Nightfall Narratives
    • Programs (Easy Department) >
      • StoryTime
      • Miss HumbleBee's Academy
      • 1000 Books
    • Resources (Preschool - 3rd Grade)
    • Resources (4th-6th grades) >
      • Thinking Money for Kids
      • Financial Literacy
      • JUV Coloring Pages
      • Juvenile Readalikes
      • Juv Blog
    • Resources (Teen Department) >
      • Youth Coloring Pages
      • Youth Readalikes
      • Bookish Fun!
      • Teen Blog
      • TAB
    • HomeSchool Resources
  • Summer Reading 2025
  • Adults
    • Career Help
    • Oxford Businesses
    • News Resources
    • Resources for Teachers
    • Oxford History >
      • Oxford Room Digital Archive
      • People of Oxford
      • Images of America : Oxford
    • Adult Literacy Program
    • Big Library Read
    • Book Club
    • Computer Classes
    • Bring Your Own Device
    • Fact Checkers
    • Legal Help
    • Notary Public Service
  • Newsletter and Calendar
  • BookMark Contest!
  • Tax Services

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:
  • 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.
The library will use the following guidelines and procedures:
  • 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.
All items will be placed in library-provided containers lined with diatomaceous earth. If weather allows, the items will be placed into the containers outside of the building on the concrete pad near the double-door entrance facing 6th Street. The library will quarantine these items inside the containers for seven days before any action is taken with the items.
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. 
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.