Material and Monetary Gift Donations

Last Updated Date
Policy Type

Policy:

The Manitowoc Public Library Board recognizes that a gift to the library is a gift to the community. Therefore, monetary and material gifts are both welcomed and encouraged.

According to the Wisconsin State Statues. 43.58 (Powers and Duties), the library board shall have exclusive control of the expenditure of all moneys collected, donated or appropriated for the library fund.

Implementation:

Monetary Gifts

Monies gifted to the library in the form of cash, stocks, bonds, etc. may be used for special projects, programs and services as the Board of Trustees may determine to enhance the Library’s ability to provide the best possible services to the community it serves.

Unrestricted bequests and gifts made to the Manitowoc Public Library may be assigned by the Manitowoc Public Library Board of Trustees to the Manitowoc Public Library Foundation and treated as if the bequest was made to the Foundation.

Other Donations

Donations of art objects, portraits, antiques and other museum objects are accepted or rejected on the basis of suitability to the library’s mission, décor and availability of space, as well as the understanding that the Library Board of Trustees has the authority to make whatever disposition is deemed advisable which may include the sale or transfer to another agency.

Requirement of special housing or special handling of any item proposed as a gift may render it unacceptable.

Materials

Materials gifted to the library in all formats are subject to the Manitowoc Public Library Collection Development Policy. Any items not added to the collection will be given to the Friends of Manitowoc Public Library. Friends of MPL will either make those items available for sale at its ongoing or special event sales, or dispose of the items, as they see fit.  The library staff with provide an acknowledgement of the material donation but this will not include a value of the material.

The following items are useful to the Friends of Manitowoc Public Library:

  • Hardcover editions of works by popular authors
  • New paperbacks (under a year old), particularly romances that are in great condition

The following items are not useful and can incur a recycling cost to the library:

  • Encyclopedias
  • Textbooks
  • National Geographic magazines
  • Other magazines

Memorial Donations

Manitowoc Public Library accepts and encourages donations to be made in memory of the deceased or for other significant life events, like the birth of a child or anniversaries.  Memorial donations for books will be acknowledged with a bookplate; In Memory of (Honoree’s Name) by (Donor’s Name (s).

To make a memorial donation please use the form on the library’s website www.manitowoclibrary.org or contact the Business Office 920-686-3041.

Board approved 4/8/10