Donate your gently used books, CDs and DVDs to the Friends of Mead Public Library! Items are either sold in the Friends Bookstore or at special sales. Proceeds support library programs and special events.
Book Donation FAQs
We accept the following:
Mysteries
Biographies
Historical
Romance
Cookbooks
Children’s Books
Travel
Art Books
Science Fiction
Gardening
Large Print
Paperbacks
Magazines
CDs
DVDs
Best Sellers
Donate up to one bag or box of books in the bin located inside the bookstore. If you have more than that, please make an appointment by calling 920-459-3400, ext. 2039. Materials unsuitable for sale will be recycled. The Friends reserve the right to refuse donations for any reason. Once donated, items will not be returned.
We do not accept the following:
Books with mold/mildew/soiled/dusty
Damaged books
Books with markings in the text
Encyclopedias
Textbooks (more than 5 years old)
Legal and medical books
Pamphlets and outdated maps
VHS tapes
Donations are tax deductible. Ask for a receipt at the first-floor Customer Service Desk. It is the donor’s responsibility to establish the value of donated items.
The Friends accept all magazine donations as long as they are no older than six months from the date donated and are in good condition. The Friends will accept National Geographic magazines up to 10 years old, but only in small quantities ( 24 or less).
Check with area thrift stores as some accept certain types of books. Paperback books, magazines and the pages of hardcover books can be recycled as paper (remove hardcover binding). Call your local municipality with questions.
If you have questions about donation of used materials, call 459-3400, ext. 2039.
Discarded Books and Materials Policy
Adopted 9-16-15
The Mead Public Library discards books and other materials from its collections for a variety of reasons including:
· Age
· Condition
· Circulation History
· Lack of relevancy to collections
Discarded materials and donated items that are not needed by the library will be given to the Friends of Mead Public Library. Materials will be sold or donated based on marketplace value. All other books/materials may be recycled and/or discarded.
Because of storage limitations and they are not saleable the Friends organization does not accept the following:
· Books with mold/mildew/soiled/dusty
· Encyclopedias
· Textbooks (more than five-years old)
· Legal and medical books
· Pamphlets and outdated maps
· Magazines
VHS tapes are not accepted but DVD's in working condition are.
For donations from the public over one box, the Friends prefer making an appointment to accept the donated books/items. It is our policy to provide receipts to acknowledge the donation. It is the donor’s responsibility to establish the value of the donated items.
Proceeds from discarded and donated items support adult and children’s programming at Mead Public Library.
What can you do with books and magazines that are not suitable for donations?
You may want to check with area thrift stores as some do accept certain types of books. If not, please recycle them. Paperback books, magazines, and the pages of hardcover books, can be recycled as paper (you must remove the hardcover binding before recycling as paper). More information is available at Sheboygan's Department of Public Works website and the Garbage/Recycling website or call the Help Desk at Mead Library (459-3400, ext. 4) with questions about municipal recycling.
Mead Library is especially interested in receiving materials related to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and Great Lakes history and has compiled a wish list of local history materials:
- Sheboygan County Plat Maps: 1916 and 1920
- Sheboygan City Directories: 1877-1885
- Sheboygan City Telephone Books before 1957
- Factory Catalogs of Manufacturers Located in the City of Sheboygan
- City of Sheboygan Club and Organization Souvenir Booklets
- City of Sheboygan Public and Parochial Elementary and Junior High/Middle School Photographs and/or School Yearbooks
- Sheboygan High School Lake Breeze Yearbooks: especially 1905, 1915,1921, but we do have a need for duplicate copies
- North High School Polaris Yearbooks: especially 1940, 1945, 1949, 1953, 1954, 1976, but we do have a need for duplicate copies
- Sheboygan County Christian High School Yearbooks: especially 1990, 1992, but we do have a need for duplicate copies
- Sheboygan City and County Church Anniversary Booklets
- Historical photographs taken within the City of Sheboygan
- Any information and/or photographs of the amusement park located on the south side of Sheboygan
- Any information and/or photographs of Camp Haven located in Haven, WI
- Books published by local Sheboygan authors
If you have questions about donation of used materials, call 459-3400, ext. 2039. More information is included in the library's Gift Policy.