What can I donate?
The library can accept the following new or gently used items in good condition:
- Books
- CDs - music and audio books
- DVDs
- Game console video games (e.g. Wii, Xbox, PS4, Nintendo)
- Jigsaw puzzles (with all their pieces)
- Board games (with all their pieces)
All donated materials must follow the Library's Donations Policy
What is not accepted as a donation?
We cannot accept the following items:
- Dirty or damaged items (e.g. no water-damaged, moldy or smelly, ripped pages or bindings, writing or highlighting throughout)
- Certain outdated reference material more than 10 years old, specifically encyclopedias, almanacs, and travel books.
- Household goods, artwork, clothing and electronics
Where do I bring donations?
- Friends of the Rochester Public Library Bookstore during open hours
- Indoor donation bin - Wooden podium donation bin next to the library side - bookstore entrance
- Outdoor donation bins - Plastic totes near the library garage door on 1st Ave SE
What happens to my donations?
- Items in excellent condition or in high demand are first considered for addition to the library's collection.
- Depending on an item’s condition and value, it may be then offered to the Friends of the Rochester Public Library for sale online, in the bookstore, or at sales, with profits given to the library and/or their literacy initiatives. Extra books are distributed to other community organizations or little libraries.
- Finally, as a last resort, if an item is damaged or unusable, it will be discarded.
We appreciate all the hard work our Friends of the Rochester Public Library put in, as 100% volunteers, to help sort through donated materials and sell them to support the library.