How to Donate

Book/Media Donations

The Library is now able to take your donations 24 hours a day through our convenient Donation Drop in the parking lot. Just enter the parking lot on Bellevue Ave and drive in until you are at the Staff Parking area. You can pull right into the space in front of the drop and add your donations.

donation-drop

Donation Guidelines

Donations of books and media in good condition are also accepted with some specific guidelines. The Library reserves the right to refuse gifts upon which restrictions are placed. Once given, no gift material can be returned to the donor. 

All items must comply with some basic criteria: no mold, no damp books, etc. Textbooks are generally not added to the collection. Professional staff review donated items for addition to the collection. Books that are not added to the collection are given to the Foundation for their on-going book sales. 

The library does not have the expertise to appraise gifts of books for tax purposes. However, a receipt may be given to the donor stating the number of items given and she/he may assign a value to the items for tax purposes. Patrons who require a receipt may request one from the Circulation Desk or Library Administration. Gift materials will be added to the collection only when they meet the same criteria and standards as for purchased materials.

Monetary Donations

Monetary Donations to the Library may be made either through the Burlingame Library Foundation or directly to the Trustees Special Fund. The Library Foundation is a 501c3 private non-profit corporation registered in the State of California (Tax ID #94-322-0365).

Donations may be made by check addressed to the Burlingame Library Foundation at 480 Primrose Road, Burlingame, CA 94010. Gifts of stock or bonds are also welcome and can be arranged through the Foundation Executive Board. For those involved in personal estate or financial planning, the Foundation offers a convenient way to make a lasting contribution to the community through planned giving. For information on such donations, contact the City Librarian or the Library Foundation directly.