Gifts and donations help enrich the library’s services and programs and are sincerely appreciated. Donations can be made directly to the Indian Prairie Library Foundation and Friends (Foundation), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which exists to handle monetary gifts, bequests, endowments, and other gifts of an enduring nature to support the library’s vital role in the community. Any donations or gifts to the library must be consistent with the library’s mission, vision, values, policies and strategic plans. Donations are not intended to replace regularly budgeted Library expenditures, however, private resources can extend and enrich library services.
Monetary Donations
Cash contributions and gifts of real property, stocks, and bonds are welcomed and may be donated to the Foundation. It is the custom to expend cash gifts on materials, equipment, or a project that is acceptable to the donor.
Commemorative Book Program
The library welcomes monetary contributions specified for book and audiovisual materials in memorial or in honor of an individual or special occasion. The general nature or subject area of the materials to be purchased may be based upon the wishes of the donor. Selection of specific titles, however, will be made by the library staff in accordance with the needs and selection policy of the library.
Donations of Materials
The library collection has been enriched by donations of materials to the library. The same criteria for inclusion of purchased materials in the collection will be applied to donated materials. In accepting donations of any materials intended for the library, the right of the final disposition of such gifts is reserved for the Executive Director and staff. The same criteria for inclusion in the collection that are used for purchase decisions shall be applied to gifts. Gifts that cannot be added to the collection shall be disposed of at the discretion of the library. They may be given to the Foundation for its book sale. Materials will be processed and shelved in accordance with standard library practices. The library cannot appraise the value of donated materials but will issue a receipt acknowledging the donation.
The library will not accept donations of the following:
- encyclopedias
- magazines
- National Geographic
- Reader's Digest Condensed Books
- textbooks
- books that are musty, mildewed, or soiled
- books with ripped covers or pages or broken spines.
- record albums
- VHS and cassette tapes
Donations of Furniture, Art and Other Types of Personal Property
The library is a place of education, enrichment, and inspiration in the community. In keeping with these responsibilities, the library does not accept donations of permanent displays or artistic decorations and instead focuses on rotating displays and works of art that serve to stimulate and enrich. The library may accept a gift of artwork or decorative item with the understanding the item will be liquidated for cash funds to support the library. In such cases, the donor must provide appropriate appraisal information to aid in understanding the value of the item.
Personal property such as furniture and equipment will be considered for acceptance on a case-by-case basis by the Executive Director. The library cannot appraise the value of donated items but will send a letter acknowledging the donation and acknowledge the gift in the newsletter and web site if the donor permits.
Restricted Donations
All restricted donations, except commemorative book donations, are subject to the recommendation of the Executive Director and the approval of the Library Board of Trustees. There may be an occasion in which the restrictions set by the donor make it impossible for the library to accept the contribution.
All gifts are accepted with the understanding that it may some day be necessary that they be sold or disposed of in the best interest of the library. The library cannot commit itself to perpetually housing a donation.
Recognition of Gifts—The Indian Prairie Public Library Board of Trustees has sole authority to determine how donors will be formally recognized in the library or on library property.
Commemorative book donations receive a bookplate listing the donor and recipient. An acknowledgement card is sent to the donor and to the person or family of the person being commemorated. If the donor permits, the donation will be published in the library’s newsletter and web site.
Monetary gifts of $25 or more to the Library or the Foundation are recognized in the library’s newsletter and the Foundation website unless the donor requests anonymity. An acknowledgement letter is sent to the donor.
Monetary gifts of $75 and $150 to the Library or the Foundation are honored on the Reading Garden Brick Path.
Monetary gifts of $250 - $5,000 to the Library or the Foundation are honored on the Donor Tree in the Library Lobby. The Foundation donated the tree to the library and funds engraving expenses.
- $250: Engraved leaf
- $1,500: Engraved small stone
- $5,000: Engraved large stone
Donations over $5,000.00 can be recognized by naming an area of the library in honor of the donor or in memorial. This recognition is dependent on the size of donation and will be determined by the Board of Trustees. Generally, the donation must cover the value of the area at the time of the donation.
The library does not guarantee that a named space will always remain the same. If the space is altered and there is no practical way to continue the name recognition in that area, the library will provide a comparable alternative to continue recognition. Naming rights will not continue if the individual or corporation for which the area is named is engaged in activities that are in conflict with the library’s mission and values, or is involved in disreputable or criminal activities that would bring dishonor and embarrassment to the library.
The Board shall be responsible for determining the manner in which the name is recognized (e.g., signage). The physical display of the naming rights may be decided or negotiated on a case-by-case basis. The Board may consider honorary naming rights for named rooms and special use areas to honor the service, commitment or other type of participation by an individual, civic or charitable group.
Donations of at least $300 given to support library programs will be recognized in the library’s promotion of said program with the name of the donor, the name of the person being memorialized, or a company logo, depending on the wishes of the donor, as well as in the library newsletter and Foundation website.
Non-monetary gifts given by a commercial business, which publicize the business, are subject to Board approval.
Tax Deduction
Gifts to the Library and the Foundation are tax-deductible as provided by law as the library is a sovereign political subdivision that may receive charitable contributions “if the gift is made for exclusively public purposes” according to the Internal Revenue Codes170(C)(1) and the Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization. Donors should consult with their tax advisor. All gifts will be acknowledged in writing by the library which serves as the donor’s record and receipt. The Library or the Foundation cannot assume the responsibility for estimating the value of donated materials for income tax or other purposes.
Fundraising
The Indian Prairie Public Library has been enriched by contributions and fundraising efforts on its behalf. With the approval of the Indian Prairie Board of Trustees, community organizations may raise funds on behalf of the Indian Prairie Public Library. In recognition of ongoing annual support by the Darien Womans’ Club, commemorative book donations in honor of children born to DWC members are given and deceased DWC members are honored with an engraved leaf on the Donor Tree according to an agreement between the library and the Darien Woman’s Club dated July 1997.
