Gifts and Donations
The Helen Plum Library’s collection has been greatly enriched by the many fine donations of materials and contributions. The library is very grateful for these donations and through donors, has been able to acquire many important acquisitions which could not have been purchased otherwise.
Types of donations
Cash:
Cash gifts as memorials or for other purposes are accepted for the purchase of library materials. While the general subject or type of materials may be specified by the donor, professional staff will select the actual titles based on Library need. If you wish to donate cash to the Library, please contact the Library Director, or send a bank check with an explanatory letter to:
Bob Harris, Director
Helen Plum Library
110 W. Maple St.
Lombard, IL 60148
Planned giving / bequests:
The Library has been the recipient of several extremely large bequests. Consider making us part of your estate plan. Discussing the purpose of the donation with the Director as part of that planning is strongly advised.
IRS Section 501(c)3 gifts:
The Helen Plum Library is able to accept cash donations that are meant for a 501(C)3 organization. The Library itself is not a 501(C)3 organization, but the donor writes a check to ILSDO Fund for Illinois Libraries and sends the check to ILSDO, c/o Shawnee Library System, 607 Greenbriar Road, Carterville, IL 62918. The director of the Shawnee Library System will deposit the money, and immediately reimburse the Helen Plum Library in the same amount.
IRS Section 170 gifts:
Donations to the Library qualify as charitable deductions for the donor under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code. It states that deductions are qualified to "any political subdivision" if "the contribution or gift is made for exclusively public purposes."
Also, refer to IRS Publication 526, "Charitable Contributions", which lists, in part, "money or property you give to...local governments, if your contribution is solely for public purposes...". Under the Illinois Constitution, the Library is a local government and a political subdivision of the State of Illinois. Further, the Library's expenditures are limited by Illinois law to "public purposes."
Memorial Funds:
The Library will set up a memorial fund, from which interest can be drawn to purchase library materials, in the amount of $xx or more. Once the fund is established, however, the Library cannot guarantee that it will exist in perpetuity. The Library reserves the right to spend this money for other purposes.
Memorial books or other items:
A memorial donation can be made in the name of a friend or relative and will enable others in the community to share in your remembrance. The Library acknowledges all memorial gifts by sending a letter to the family of the person being remembered. We will work closely with the donors to select something appropriate to those being remembered. An appropriate memorial nameplate may also be placed in the donated item. A record is kept in a looseleaf that the public can view and browse. We regret that we cannot guarantee the materials will be kept for perpetuity. Professional librarians may withdraw the items as they become outdated or damaged.
Books and other items:
Any books or other items donated to the Library become the sole property of the Library, which may use them or discard them to fit the Library’s needs.
The Library accepts donations of the kinds of things that are found in a library collection, such as books, DVDs, CDs, video games, computer software, and the like. The Library does not usually accept items that would not normally be part of the library’s collection, except with permission from the Director. For example, we do not accept historical objects, photographs, antiques, art works, furniture, computers, printers, scanners, etc.
The Library does not accept donations given conditionally, except with the permission of the Library Director. For example, the Library does not accept gifts with the condition that they be kept, used, processed, or maintained in any certain way.
The Library does not accept multi-volume sets (encyclopedias), magazines, newspapers, or textbooks.
The Library does not accept items that are in poor condition, moldy or smelly.
In accepting a gift of materials, the Library reserves the right to decide whether items donated should be added to its collection. While some items may be useful in our collection, others may not be if they are:
- a duplicate of an item of which the library already has a sufficient number;
- outdated or obsolete;
- in poor condition, which would not justify the expense of processing, cataloging and preparing it for use; and/or
- of a specialized nature and not within the collection development plan of the library.
If donated book and other materials are not used, these items will be donated to the Friends of the Library and sold at their book sales. The Friends have made many donations to the Library from funds they have raised
Income Tax Statements
The library cannot assess the value of a donation. There is a donation form that can be completed for your records. It is the donor’s responsibility to determine the value of the donation or use an independent appraiser to do it for them.
Use of Donations
Any cash received by the Library, books, or any other objects, become the property of the Library and will be used or not, solely at the Library’s discretion. The Library does not accept gifts with the condition that they be kept, used, processed, or maintained in any certain way.
The library cannot commit itself to perpetually housing a donation. Of course, no donation will be disposed of in a careless manner and every donor can be assured that the library will respect their donation and house it as long as feasible.
Other Conditions
No one may use the Library’s dumpsters to dispose of their unwanted materials.
Library staff will not pick up donations from another location. Donations must be brought to the Library.
Library staff can help transport donations into the library only if there are appropriate staff available to do so.
Recognition of Gifts
The Library has a sign, located near the front desk, that recognizes significant donations.
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