Your book donations are handled by our Friends of the Library. These volunteers sell your books through the Mini Bookstore, their annual BookFest sale, and other book sales throughout the year. The proceeds support Library collections, programs, and services.
Thank you for your donation!
About Donating Books
When can I donate?
- See our Book Donation Days in our Events Calendar for upcoming dates and times.
Important: The Friends volunteers and the library cannot accept materials donations outside of our Book Donation Days. Please do not leave donations on library property or in the book drop at any time.
How does it work?
Come to the Library Annex entrance during our set donation dates. A volunteer will pre-screen your donations while you wait, and will accept those that meet donation guidelines (see below). You will be asked to please take back any items that do not meet the donation guidelines.
Guidelines for Donating Materials for the Friends’ Book Sales
Books and DVDs must be in good, clean, saleable condition—free of mildew, mold, dirt or water damage. Unfortunately, in the past, approximately 1/3 of all our donations ended up in the recycling depot or trash.
We gladly accept:
- Children’s books
- Hardcover and paperback fiction and non-fiction books
- DVDs (in original case)
We do not accept (please recycle or discard):
- Any damaged book
- Activity books and workbooks (like colouring books)
- Annuals and yearbooks
- Audio cassettes, VHS tapes, LP records & computer software
- Catalogues
- Encyclopedias
- Directories and telephone books
- Magazines (like National Geographic or cooking publications)
- Non-Western script books
- Reference and technical material over 5 years old
- Textbooks
Donating Materials to the Library Collection
If you are interested in donating materials to be placed in the library’s collections, please contact us for more information. Read the Collections Development Policy (includes our Gifts and Donations Policy).
All gifts become the property of the Bowen Island Public Library, and donations may be added to the collection at the Library’s discretion. Bowen Library does not guarantee the inclusion nor the permanence of a donation in our collection.