Library offers book donation tips, tricks and how-tos

Once upon a time, there was a box of books tucked away in an attic. It sat in the dark for years waiting to be discovered by someone who would appreciate the books inside. One day, the attic light came on and the box felt a warm embrace as it was lifted up. The box was opened for the first time in ages as some CDs and DVDs were stuffed inside. The freshness of the outdoor air surrounded the box as it was gently placed in a car. The natural light from the many windows and subtle vibration of the moving vehicle built anticipation until suddenly the movement stopped. The warm sun rushed over the box as the hatchback was opened. After some brief conversation between the driver and the librarian, the box was hoisted out of the car and taken to its new home. The books were sorted and shared with the Friends of the Library or added to the library collection where they lived happily ever after.

For a box of books, being donated is the best thing that could ever happen. But, there are a few things you should know before you load that box into your Subaru. Donating materials actually starts before you bring them in. Let me break it down for you.

1. Thank you. First of all, thanks for thinking of us. Your materials donations have saved The Library (in other words, you — Mr. or Ms. Taxpayer) money that we would have spent on buying materials for the collection. When items are not needed for circulation, we pass them along to the Friends of the Library who sell them at their monthly book sales. That money goes toward funding library programs and equipment.

2. Inquire first. We applaud your efforts to declutter. To save yourself and that hopeful box of books potential disappointment, you can call ahead to see if we are taking the types of formats you have to offer. We don’t take anything that is date-sensitive such as text books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, or computer manuals. We only take materials that we have in the collection, so, no 8-track tapes, cassettes, or VHS. Sometimes, we are overrun with a particular item that we can’t take any more of (I’m talking to you, paperback romance novel). Local thrift stores often take what we don’t.

3. Tally your tax value. We don’t have an ideal space for accepting donations, so when donations are dropped off, we’d like to be able to grab them, thank you, and get them out of the way. We don’t have room for donors to sift through the items to gauge their value so that they can complete their donation form for tax purposes. Instead, you can pick up the donation form in advance (or online at ebonnerlibrary.org) so that you can fill out the form before you arrive.

4. Flip, smell, & toss. If you have materials that have been stored for some time, you may not know what is lurking in that box. Please flip through the individual items for mold, mildew, and teeny critters that could infest other materials, as well as water damage, etc. If it looks like something you wouldn’t want to check out or buy from a thrift store, go ahead and toss it. Pacific Steel & Recycling takes books for recycling.

5. Save your back. After a big purge-fest, you might want to export everything out immediately. We can only take a maximum of three boxes of items at a time — good news for whoever has to haul them out to the car.

6. Don’t dump & run. Imagine how The Libray would look if people left bags and boxes of materials outside, not to mention the potential weather damage to the items. Just pull up to the back of the library where the garage is located (near Oak Street) and ring the door bell. One of us will come right out to assist you.

It’s easy to donate materials, especially with a little advance planning. Recently, we have accepted a lot of donations and answered quite a few questions about how to donate. This article is not meant as a request for more donations. Actually, we have more than we can process at this time and we do not currently have staff dedicated to processing donations.

For those who wish to make donations, this article may save them time and help us to process donated materials more efficiently. We appreciate your contributions and want to make it a happy ending for everyone involved.

For inquiries about donating materials to our branch libraries, call 208-263-6930.

- Saturday, Aug. 4 — Sandpoint Friends of the Library Book Sale, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Sandpoint branch. It’s a mystery-palooza at the August FOL Sale with mystery paperbacks at four for $1! Pick up some Mary Higgins-Clark, Tom Clancy, John Grisham, James Patterson, and Stuart Woods. We are also featuring how-to books for those summer projects. Support your book habit while supporting your library.

- Saturday, Aug. 4 — Little Mozarts Music Class Series, 10:30 a.m. at the Sandpoint branch. Music Conservatory of Sandpoint’s Michelle Handy leads an in-progress music class for kids. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211.

- Tuesday, Aug. 7 — Mother Goose in the Park, 10:15 a.m. at Travers Park, 2100 Pine St. Stories and singing for babies and toddlers 0-3 years and their caregivers. Information: 208-263-6930 ext. 1211 or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org. Note: there will be no Mother Goose or Family Story Time for the remainder of August. Weekly Story Times will resume at the Sandpoint branch on Sept. 4.

- Tuesday, Aug. 7 — Family Story Time in the Park, 11 a.m. at Travers Park, 2100 Pine St. Stories and crafts for kids and their caregivers.

- Tuesday, Aug. 7 — End of Summer Reading Party for Teens, 5 p.m. at the Sandpoint branch. All that reading might pay off tonight! Come see if you’ve won a new set of books in the grand prize drawing. Information: 208-263-6930 ext. 1245 or morgan@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Wednesday, Aug. 8 — Clark Fork Stories and More, 10:30 a.m. Stories, crafts, prizes and snacks for kids ages 3-8 years at the Clark Fork branch. NOTE: this is the final program until Sept. 5. Information: 208-266-1321.

- Wednesday, Aug. 8 —End of Summer Reading Party. 2 PM at the Sandpoint branch. You’ve read all summer... come celebrate with us. Crafts, ice cream, free books, and the grand prize drawing. Information: 208-263-6930 ext. 1211 or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Wednesday, Aug. 8 — Clark Fork End of Summer Reading Party. 2 PM at the Clark Fork branch. Information: 208-266-1321.

- Wednesday, Aug. 8 — Clark Fork End of Summer Reading Party for Teens. 5 PM at the Clark Fork branch. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1245, or morgan@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Saturday, Aug. 11 — Library Garden Work Day, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Sandpoint branch. The Library is building a new community educational grden and we need your help! Show up to help get this project to take root! Information: Mike Bauer 208-265-2665.

- Libraries Rock Summer Reading Program. Log your reading to earn badges, win prizes, and stay sharp over the summer. Register at ebonnerlibrary.beanstack.org or pick up a print log to record your reading and read-to-me books. Meet your friends at Libraries Rock events. Details at ebonnerlibrary.org.

- StoryWalk — Pages from a children’s book are posted along a trail for a fun, family experience. Enjoy “Dragons Love Tacos,” by Adam Rubin at Dover City Park and “The Wolf’s Chicken Stew,” by Keiko Kasza at McNearney Park. Read, connect, & get outside at a StoryWalk, a partnership of The Library, Kaniksu Land Trust, City of Dover, and City of Ponderay. For more information, visit ebonnerlibrary.org or call Suzanne Davis 208-263-6930 ext. 1211 or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

Marcy Timblin is in charge of public relations, marketing and community development for the East Bonner County Library District. She can be reached at 208-208-208-263-6930, ext. 1204.