Your donations of books and other media support some of our most important fundraising activities, helping important VPL programs. This also allows us to offer affordable books to the community. At book’mark, The Library Store, and at the Annual Used Book Sale you can find gently used books for as little as $2. Finally, by finding new homes for previously loved books, thousands of items stay out of landfills.

Thank you for contributing to this win-win-win initiative. Please read below to learn what and how to donate.

What can Friends accept?

• Books in English or French, in good condition
• CDs and LPs in good condition, playable and in their original cover
• DVDs from Region 1, playable and in their original cover
• Advanced reading copies

Friends DOES NOT accept

• Materials unfit for sale or damaged
• Materials that are stained, water-damaged, moldy, black dusty, etc.
• Materials that are ripped, missing pages, highlighted, noted, etc.
• Materials with strong odors like smoke, cigarette, etc.
• Materials with pests or signs of pest infestation
• Foreign language books (Only English & French)
• VHS and cassette tapes
• Textbooks including school, university, or coursebooks
• Encyclopedias
• Magazines
• Spiral bound materials
• Stationery including notebooks, photo albums, journals

How much can Friends accept?

Friends of the VPL can accept donations of up to 3 boxes year-round.

If your donation is larger than 3 boxes, please make smaller, separate donations a minimum of a week apart OR wait for the annual book drive near the end of summer where donations of any size are welcome.

How should donations be packaged? 

You can bring your donations in reusable bags or boxes. (Friends can return your bags and boxes, if you wish.)

• Please do not package donations in plastic bags
• Please ensure boxes or bags are clean, dry and pest-free before packing
• Please check donations stored for a long time to ensure everything is still in good condition. If it’s possible, please move the donations to new boxes or bags before donating.
• Consider using banker boxes or liquor boxes to donate. (Liquour stores will often provide boxes for free, if asked.)

What happens to my donations? 

Your donations will be sold by the Friends of the VPL at book’mark, The Library Store and the Annual Used Book Sale.

All the proceeds go to the funding of VPL programs.

Where to Drop Off

book’mark, The Library Store at VPL Central Library
Monday to Friday: 10 am to 5:30 pm
Saturday: 10 am to 4 pm.

Unfortunately, book’mark is the only drop-off spot for donations; please do not leave donations at any other library locations. During the Annual Book Drive, an alternative location will be made available. Please check the website in July and August for the Book Drive dates.

Friends of the VPL is grateful for everyone who thinks of Friends when trying to donate.  Friends volunteers try their best to make donating as easy as possible, but as a small charity, Friends is unable to accommodate individual needs such as pickups, alternative drop-off spots, and exceptions to accepted items.

If you have any further questions, email [email protected] or leave a message at 604.331.4036.