Thank you for considering a gift to the Mashpee Library Please review our gift policy for more information.
The Mashpee Public Library welcomed many gifts over the years. These donations greatly enrich our services, collections, as well as buildings and grounds. Gifts are welcome and encouraged, with the donor’s agreement and understanding of the following policies and conditions:
Books & Library Materials
The Mashpee Public Library gratefully accepts gifts of books, periodicals, and audiovisual materials. However, please understand that the Library adds them to the collection only when needed. Additionally, gifts must meet the same standards of selection applied to regular library purchases.
The staff and volunteers, authorized by the Library Director, are responsible for evaluating gift materials. Therefore, donated books and materials are not guaranteed inclusion in the Library’s collection. Accepted materials are added to the collection, distributed to other libraries or sold or discarded.
Special Collections & Memorial Collections
Special collections and memorial collections are not necessarily shelved as separate physical entities. Consequently, such collections are only accepted with the understanding that integratrion into the general collection is not guaranteed. Therefore, the only form of memorial identification is a book plate.
When the library receives a cash gift for the purchase of materials, whether as a memorial or for any other purpose, the donor can choose materials of a general nature or subject area based on their wishes. However, the library staff determines the selection of specific titles in accordance with the Library’s needs and selection policies.
Cash, Securities Real Estate
If a donor wishes to make a monetary contribution, the check should be made payable to the Mashpee Public Library. Moreover, the Library Director keeps a record of the gift and the Board of Trustees Corresponding Secretary sends the donor a letter of acknowledgment.
Gifts contingent upon a specific purpose are subject to acceptance by the Library Board of Trustees. Consequently, once accepted, designated gifts will be used so far as is practicable in accordance with such designation.
All gift funds received as gifts are deposited to the Library Donation Account and expended by the Library Director with the approval of the Library Board of Trustees.
Other Gifts
The President of the Board of Trustees and the Library Director approve the acceptance of other gift items, including art and antiques. Additionally, the Library Board of Trustees must approve all gifts .
Gift approval will be based on the suitability to the purposes and needs of the library, laws and regulations that govern the ownership of the gift, and the library’s ability to cover insurance and maintenance costs associated with the donation. Likewise, the Library Board reserves the right to decline any gift.
Donated items become the exclusive property of the library. Therefore, the Board of Trustees may approve alteration, display, storage, trade, sale or disposal of donated items.
Donated items are not returned to the donor. Therefore, the Library will not accept anything that is not an outright gift. Additionally, the Library Director or the Board of Trustees may remove gift items from the library collections at any time.
Additional Gift Information
The Library makes every effort to abide by agreements made with respect to gifts. However, circumstances such as ordinary wear, theft, mutilation, obsolescence and changing Library needs, may lead to changes. Therefore, gifts are not guaranteed to be permanently displayed or kept by the Library.
Furthermore, if donors make a request, they may receive written verification of their gift on Library letterhead. However, the Library will place no monetary value on the gift. Therefore, it is recommended that the donor make a list of items donated. Also, in the case of items donated to obtain a tax benefit, it is the donor’s responsibility to establish fair market value or obtain expert assistance in establishing any value.
All gifts are subject to the terms of this policy.