Donation Policy and Procedure

Thank you for considering the libraries at the Mecklenburg County jails as recipients of your book donations. Reading is an extremely important part of an inmate’s life both as a learning experience and a pastime. Therefore, your donations are a significant part of our efforts to make as many books as possible available.

To guarantee the best use of your donation and that we adhere to the restrictions of an institutional library, the following criteria are guidelines for evaluating your donations prior to transferring the materials to us:

Types of books accepted:

• Adult fiction including bestsellers, mysteries and westerns.
• Adult nonfiction including biographies, history, philosophy,
humor, job readiness and reentry
• Juvenile and young adult fiction and nonfiction
• Paperbacks or hardbacks are acceptable
• Books in Spanish
• Think about adopting one of our book clubs: lists of needed titles will be provided.

• Ladies First Book Club at JC. Contact the JC Librarian at 704-353-0926
• Young Adult Book Club at JN – ages 16 & 17

Please inspect the book for:

• torn covers
• torn pages
• writing or highlighting
• unglued spines
• water damage
• brittle, yellow, cracking pages
• unpleasant smells
• personal items – name, address labels, old letters, newspaper
clippings, bookmarks, etc.
• Mold or mildew – These organisms can spread to other books and potentially damage the entire collection. Also as they become airborne, they create a respiratory hazard for library workers.

Books not accepted:

• Textbooks are not useful. Specific learning materials
Are purchased for the educational classes.
• Out-of-date non-fiction, e.g. How to Invest, copyright 1975,
old medical/diet books.
• Readers Digest condensed novels – unless within the last two
years.
• Audio book format – audio books are now digitally downloaded.
We do not have equipment to play tapes or CDs.
• Religious material specific to denominations should be referred to the chaplains’ division.

How to Donate Books

Contact the MCSO library manager at 336-3565.

The content of the collection, titles and authors will be reviewed during a
phone conversation to determine if they meet the needs of the library. Shelf space is limited and items received must fit the collection development needs of the library patrons.

Jail North, 5235 Spector Drive, is the designated depository for all donated books.

Please call in advance of your delivery to ensure that someone is available
to receive your donation. Library staff is unable to pick up donations.

Donors of books will receive a letter itemizing quantity and condition of books that are donated. Library staff will not place a value on book donations.

Library Fund

The library has a designated account for monetary donations. If you or your organization would like to make a contribution that can be used for purchases identified by library staff as specific needs, please contact the Library Manager at 704-336-3565. Monetary donations are tax deductible and will be acknowledged with a l