Donation Policy
Thank you for thinking of the Waltham Public Library.
Each year, the library purchases thousands of print and non-print materials. With modern
technology, it is actually more expensive for us to accept a donation and prepare it for circulation
than it is for us to purchase a title that comes ready for the shelf. Thus, we have found it necessary
to place some limits on what we can accept for our collection and our book sale.
Please contact the Library Director if you have questions about donations that are not covered by
these guidelines.
For our collection:
The Waltham Public Library only accepts books for our collection that have been published
in the last year, and are in excellent physical condition, as determined by library staff. The
Waltham Public Library provides a slip for your records, indicating the number of items donated to
us. We are unable to provide any further written acknowledgement for donations, nor do we possess
the qualifications to appraise the value of materials.
For our book sale:
The Library has learned from many years of experience what does and does not sell at our annual
book sale. We have to be selective because of storage limitations and the labor involved in sorting so
many items. Materials in poor collection (moldy, torn, soiled, water damaged, etc.) cannot be
accepted. Encyclopedias, reference materials, text books, or artwork cannot be accepted for our
collection or the book sale.
Approved by Board of Library Trustees 6/16/15
Below is a list of places that may be interested in receiving your donations.
Laura will edit:
The Book Exchange Cambridge DPW Recycling Drop-Off Center 147 Hampshire St. Cambridge,
MA 02139 Hours: Tues. & Thurs. 4pm – 7:30pm; Sat. 9am – 4:00pm Accepts hard & soft cover
books , CDs, DVDs, and Video Games Place large quantities in cardboard box or plastic bag
Boomerangs – Boston (617) 524-5120 716 Centre Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Hours: Mon. –
Sat. 10:30am-6pm, Sun. noon- 5pm Accepts hard & soft cover books , CDs, DVDs, and Video
Games
Boston Family Shelter (617) 267-8081 656 Massachusetts Avenue Boston, MA 02118 Hours: Mon. –
Fri. 9am-6pm, Sat. & Sun. 9am- 7pm Accepts all books Children’s books are really needed.
CASPAR Shelter (617) 661-0600 240 Albany St. Cambridge, MA 02139 Hours: 24/7 Accepts hard
& soft cover books in good condition No children's books
Community Book Solutions (978) 664-6555 http://www.gotbooks.com Accepts hardcover &
softcover books, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks and records They DO NOT accept encyclopedias,
Reader’s Digest condensed books, catalogs or magazines. They will pick up books for free and box
them if necessary.
Goodwill – Cambridge (617) 868-6330 520 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 Hours:
Mon.-Sat. 10am.-7pm, Sun. Noon-6pm
Goodwill – Somerville (617) 628-3618 230 Elm Street Somerville, MA 02144 Hours: Mon.-Sat.
10am.-7pm, Sun. Noon-6pm
Homeless Services/Friends of Boston’s Homeless (617) 534-2526, ext. 46130 or dial 0 c/o Long
Island Shelter P.O. Box 220648 Boston, MA 02122 Call for directions. Accepts paperbacks and
CDs. Massachusetts General Hospital (617) 726-8540 Main Campus Gray-Bigelow, Room 015M
Boston, MA Hours: Mon. – Fri. 8:30am – 7pm They accept books, CDs, DVDs, and magazines
within 3 months of release.
Mount Auburn Hospital (617) 499-5016 Volunteer Office, South Building 330 Mount Auburn Street
Cambridge, MA 02138 Accepts books and CDs Call before making donations. Book shelves are
often full
Prison Books (617) 423-3298 Contact: Lucy Parsons 1306 Hancock Street, Suite 100 (basement
entry) Quincy, MA 02169 www.prisonbookprog.org Hours: Tues. and Thurs. from 6:30pm – 9pm.
Enter through the side basement door on Temple Street. They accept current dictionaries, reference,
foreign language or educational books. They DO NOT accept hardcover books or Reader’s Digests.
They especially are interested in receiving books on African-American, Latino and Native-American
history and culture, religion, current legal self-help guides, trade paperbacks, how-to guides and
books on business.
Read Boston (617) 635-READ (7323) 43 Hawkins Street Boston, MA 02114 They accept new and
slightly used books for children up to third grade. Please call before bringing donations.
Rosie’s Place (617) 442-9322 89 Harrison Ave. Boston, MA 02118 Will accept videos: VHS, DVD
Salvation Army - Somerville (781) 395-9783 483 Broadway Somerville, MA 02155 Hours: Mon. –
Sat. from 9am – 5pm They accept anything.
Women’s Lunch Place (617) 267-1722 67 Newbury Street Boston, MA 02116 Donations are
accepted from 9am – 11am, Monday-Saturday Eager to receive donations