Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs

• What is the difference between the Friends and the Foundation?
• What does the Library do with donated books?
• Where does my book go, if you don't add it to the Library's collection?
• Can I get a receipt for the books I donate?
• What kinds of items does the Library like to receive?
• What do the Friends do with books left over after Book Sales?

Q. What is the difference between the Friends and the Foundation?

A. The most important role of the Friends is to support the Library through volunteerism and advocacy. The main focus of the Foundation is to fund Library programming and outreach services.
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Q. What does the Library do with donated books?

A. Donations provide us with many books for the Library's collection. A Library staff person carefully examines all donated items and selects those that fill gaps in our collection. Any books that we choose to add to the collection also meet our regular selection criteria as outlined in our Collection Development Policy.
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Q. Where does my book go, if you don't add it to the Library's collection?

A. Sometimes the donated item doesn't meet the Library's collection development criteria. Perhaps we already have enough copies of the donated title, or enough information on the subject, or it may not meet the information needs of our community. If the Library can't use the item, it gets passed along to the Friends of the Teton County Library. The Friends sort the item and store it for their next Book Sale. Friends Books Sales get as many books as possible, into as many hands as possible, for as little money as possible.
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Q. Can I get a receipt for the books I donate?

A. The Front Desk staff will be happy to give you a receipt for the number of items donated and the date of the donation. However, we are unable to quote a value for donated items.
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Q. What kinds of items does the Library like to receive?

A. Most importantly, we like to receive current titles in excellent condition. These are the materials we love to get:

• Current and former bestsellers in excellent condition, both fiction and nonfiction
• Hardback classics in excellent condition
• Fiction paperbacks in like-new condition
• Children's titles in good condition
• Historical materials related to Wyoming and Jackson Hole
• Unabridged audio recordings, both fiction and nonfiction
• Business and language audiotapes
• Classic feature films that were purchased, not copied, with covers in good condition
• CDs of popular works

We are not able to accept:

• Items in poor condition with yellow pages, highlighted text or mildew
• Textbooks
• Encyclopedias of any age
• Back issues or runs of magazines
• Reader’s Digest condensed books
• Out-of-date nonfiction

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Q. What do the Friends do with books left over after Book Sales?

A. Items that the Friends can't use or sell at a Book Sale are offered to local nonprofit agencies at the end of the Book Sale, then they are donated to nonprofits or other organizations who may have a use for the item such as schools, doctors' offices, other libraries, prisons or nonprofits serving foreign countries.
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