Monetary Donations

If you would like to make a donation to the Library, please send your check or money order to:

Attention: Clerk Treasurer
Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County
201 N. Mulberry St. 
Mount Vernon, OH 43050

Please indicate any special designation for your donation by including details in the memo line.

Monetary donation questions can be directed to Dee Durfee, Clerk/Treasurer, at 740-392-BOOK ext. 8235.

Tax-Deduction Information

Why donations are tax-Deductible

• Public libraries in Ohio are governmental entities or political subdivisions of the State of Ohio.
• Under IRS rules (26 U.S.C. § 170(c)(1)), contributions made to or for the use of a state, a political subdivision, or the United States for public purposes are tax-deductible charitable contributions.
• That means donations of money, books, or other property to a public library (for its official use) qualify as charitable contributions.
  

Types of deductible Donations

• Cash donations: Deductible if no goods/services are received in return.
• Material donations (books, equipment, etc.): Deductible at fair market value, if the library accepts them for public use.
• Bequests and memorial gifts: Also qualify if given for library purposes.

What donors should do?

Request a written receipt or acknowledgement from the library showing:

• The date of the donation
• A brief description (and possibly value) of the item(s) donated.
• A statement that no goods or services were provided in return, if applicable.

For non-cash gifts over $500, IRS form 8283 is required; over $5,000 may require a formal appraisal.

Important note: The deduction applies only if the donation is used for a public purpose- i.e., to support the library's programs, collections, or services. 

Used Material Donations

what does the library accept?

• Clean, readable books (fiction and non-fiction)
• Children's books
• Audiobooks (discs in case)
• Music CDs
• Magazines (dated within the past year)
• Videogames in playable condition in case
• Encyclopedia sets (published in the last 5 years)
  
• Vinyl records

items we do not accept

• Moldy books
• Damaged books: missing pages, torn covers, etc.
• Textbooks or computer books (older than 5 years)
• Reader's Digest Condensed Books
• Encyclopedia sets (published more than 5 years ago)
• VHS Tapes

where can I take my donation?

Donations can be dropped off at any of our four library locations during regular business hours of operation. Please DO NOT put items in the library drop box. Due to space limitations, if you have more than one box, we request that you deliver your donation to our main branch in Mount Vernon.

what is done with my donation?

Donations will be considered for addition to the collection if they meet the same standards required of purchased materials and if a need for that item exists. Donated items will also be used to support the Free Little Libraries in and around Mount Vernon. Materials not meeting those standards or needed for our collection will be donated to other community partner organizations that accept these items. Some items may be responsibly disposed of if they do not meet the guidelines for donated materials.

Further questions regarding donations?

If you have further questions regarding Used Material donations or Gift Program, please call Jennifer Calabretta, Gifts and Memorials, at 740-392-2665 ext. 8242 or Mike Sherfy, Used Material donations, at 740-392-2665 ext. 8260.

Gift Program (Memorials and Honorariums)

Honor someone special by giving the gift of books, movies, audiobooks, or music to the Library. It’s a heartfelt way to celebrate friends and family—while enriching the Library’s Collection and sharing the joy of learning, entertainment, and discovery with the entire community.

Gift Program forms can be picked up at the Circulation Desk at any of our four library locations. Fill out the form completely and return it to the Circulation Desk for processing, scan to email at [email protected] or mail to:

Attention: Gifts & Memorials
Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County
201 N. Mulberry St.
Mount Vernon, OH 43050

Gift Program form online coming soon!