Gift and Donation Guidelines (Interim)

The Thomas County Public Library System welcomes gifts of materials or funds to purchase materials.

Once given to the library system:

• All items become the property of the Thomas County Public Library System and will be evaluated for inclusion into the library collection.
• Receipts may be given to the donor, listing number of items donated, however, staff may not assign a dollar amount to the donations.
• Donations may be received by any of the library branches in the Thomas County Public Library System.
• All materials donations must meet established material selection criteria before being added to the collection. As a result, donations may be added to the best suitable TCPLS library branch, sold at a public book sale or recycled as deemed necessary.

The following materials cannot be processed because of space limitations, cost of processing and selection criteria:

• Worn or dirty, stained, mildew, damaged, brittle and/or yellowed
• Highlighted, written or marked
• Advanced reader copies or proofs
• Incomplete sets such as encyclopedias, etc.
• Editions of a handbook or manual if a newer edition is available in the PINES system.
• Outdated information (such as travel, medicine, science, and personal finance)
• Fiction and Non-fiction older than 7 years, unless in demand or of local interest
• Magazines and newspapers unless in demand or of local interest
• Textbooks and workbooks, out of date encyclopedias
• Condensed books, Readers’ Digest books, and book club editions
• Audio cassettes
• Music CDs that are promotional copies or “ripped-copied”
• Video (VHS) tapes
• Discarded materials from other library systems or from schools or previous rental copies
• Materials with property stamps from other libraries, rental companies, schools, etc.
• Mass-market paperbacks (small)
• No hardbacks without covers

The branch where the gift is received will have first consideration for the materials to be added to the collection, however, if the materials are not needed at that branch, the materials may be transferred to another TCPLS branch for addition to their library collection.