• All materials donated to the Library are subject to the Collection Development policy. Generally, items will be selected for the Library’s collections if they are in good condition and likely to be in demand or fill in gaps in the collection.
• The Library retains the right to determine where donated materials will be allocated.
• Donated materials that are not added to the collection are disposed of at the discretion of the Library. The majority of these materials are given to the Friends of the Library for their book sale. Money earned by the Friends is returned to the Library in the form of grants for special purchases or programs. A small number of donated materials are placed for sale near the circulation desks. Proceeds from the sale of these items goes to the Friends. Donations that cannot be used by the library or by the Friends will be disposed of and may be recycled a number of ways.
• Upon request, the library staff can provide a form letter stating the number of items donated to the Library. However, an estimate or certification of value will not be provided by the Library.

* The Library has a separate “Art Collection Policy.”

MEMORIAL GIFTS

Individuals may wish to make donations to the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library in memory of a friend or relative. The Library appreciates such thoughtfulness.

Memorial gifts are acknowledged in three ways as deemed appropriate:

• Notification is mailed to the designated friend(s) or family of the deceased informing them that a donation has been made and who made it.
• An acknowledgment is mailed to the donor.
• Donor plates are attached to the gift when appropriate.

Unrestricted cash donations are deposited in the Gift Fund. Unrestricted gifts will be used to purchase furniture, equipment, supplies or other physical items to support special events or initiatives or to supplement the purchase of those items from the operating fund. This may include the purchase of items for the library’s Hoosier Art Collection.

Restricted gifts will be considered by the Director if their value is under $10,000 and by the Library Board if their value exceeds $10,000. Restricted gifts, if accepted, will be used for the purpose specified by the donor such as to support children’s programming and will be recorded in accordance with Indiana Library Accounting Procedures. Donors of restricted gifts will be noted in library publicity or on physical items as deemed appropriate when the gift is accepted.

Individuals who are considering making memorial gifts in some other form should contact the Library Administrative Office prior to making the donation, or consider donating to the library’s fund at the Community Foundation of Howard County.

Materials donated to the Library or purchased as memorial gifts are subject to the Library’s Collection Development policy or the Art Collection Policy. These policies permit the disposal of such items when they are worn out or cease to be useful to library patrons.

Revised December 2020

Please visit the Donations page to learn more about Memorial and Cash gifts to the Library.