Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to specify the type of donations and gifts the Hoyt Lakes Public Library will accept and how the Library will handle these donations and gifts.

General Policy

1. General Gifts and Donations. The Hoyt Lakes Public Library Board of Trustees authorizes the Library Director sole discretion to accept or decline donations of any kind that support and further the mission, goals, and objectives of the Library, as established by the Board.
2. Memorials and Gifts in Honor of Individuals or Groups. Gifts may be accepted in honor or in memoriam of a person or event. Acknowledgement of such a gift will be made by the Library Director.
3. Appraisals of Gifts. The Library cannot and does not appraise books, works of art or any other items. The Library will not bear the cost of such an appraisal. Donors who wish to have the value of a donation specified must make all arrangements for and bear all costs of an appraisal. Appraisals must be done by an agency independent of the Library or the donor.
4. Donor Restrictions. The Library may not be able to accept a donation if the donor places extensive and/or restrictive conditions on the use of the gift by the Library. The Library will work with the donor to reach an agreement on the disposition of the gift. However, the Library will not accept a gift if the donor's wishes cannot be carried out successfully by the Library for any reason or do not fall within the mission, goals and objectives of the Library. If this is determined to be so, the donor will be notified in writing and the gift returned.
5. Signage. All decisions regarding directional and/or wayfaring signage with respect to the location of a donated item or items within the Library building is the prerogative of the Library.
6. Ownership and Disposition. All gifts accepted by the Library become the property of the Library, which has the prerogative to keep or dispose of the items as it deems appropriate.

Specific Donation Accepted

The Library accepts the following types of gifts or donations:

1. Gifts of Money
   1. Gifts of money may be accepted in any amount.

b.     Donors may indicate how they wish for the donation to be used by the Library, including the type of material, service or activity to be purchased. The Library will work with the donor to accommodate their wishes while considering the mission, goals, and objectives of the Library, as established by the Board.

1. Gifts of Books and Other Library Materials
   1. The Library may accept gifts of books and other library materials in good condition which shall be evaluated in accordance with the Library’s Materials Selection/Collection Development Policy.
   2. Materials not added to the Library’s collection may be added to the yearly book sale and funds earned will be used for new item purchases or for programming, as determined by the Library Director.
2. Gifts of Artwork, Furniture, Equipment, Memorabilia and Realia
   1. The Library may accept gifts of art, furniture, equipment, memorabilia and realia that support and further the mission, goals and objectives of the Library.
   2. The placement and display of any donated item is the sole prerogative of the Library Director. The wishes of the donor regarding the location of the art will be considered.
3. Other Items

a.     Donation of any other types of gifts, including in-kind gifts, will be considered by the Library Director on a case-by-case basis.

b.     Donations left at the doors outside the building, in the lobby, on the book sale shelving, or placed in the drop box will be evaluated and dispensed with in accordance with the Library’s Materials Selection/Collection Development Policy.

Procedure

The Library Director and Library staff will evaluate in accordance with the Library’s Materials Selection/Collection Development Policy donated item(s) and determine if the item(s) will be added to the Library’s collection, placed in the book sale, or be disposed of.

Adopted and approved by:

Hoyt Lakes Public Library Board of Trustees

November 18, 2025