Support the Library
There are a number of ways to help the library through donations. We appreciate each and every one, no matter how large or small!
Make a monetary donation
For credit card donations, we use Maine PayPort. A processing fee will be added to the total.
Donate securely online here
This link takes you to an epayment page on Maine.gov where our credit card payments get processed. Please include the specific fund or reason for your donation in the Notes field. (Examples: Annual Fund, Greatest Need, In Honor of, in Memory of…)
We accept donations of cash or check made out to the Ellsworth Public Library.
Donations may be left at the Circulation Desk or mailed to the library at:
Ellsworth Public Library
20 State Street
Ellsworth, ME 04605
Drop your spare change in our Donation Jar each time you come in!
Make a donation in memory of or in honor of someone
We accept donations in memory of your family and friends and acknowledge these donations to both the giver and the person’s family. We encourage the family to help with the decision on how the funds will be used.
A donation to the library can also be a great way to honor someone when they retire, have a birthday, or just because they mean a lot to you.
Planned Giving
Remember the Library in your annual charitable donations and in your estate planning with the giving of funds or property. All donations to the Library are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please contact the Board of Trustees for more information.
Volunteer your time and skills
The library uses qualified volunteers to help with some of the tasks that keep the library running. Some of these are:
- Shelving
- Preparing materials to go into the collection
- Helping with preparation for children’ programs
- Serving on community committees working on library’s future
If you would like to volunteer, see our volunteer page for more information and fill out our contact form about your availability. The Friends of the Library also offer many opportunities to volunteer.
Donate Materials & Books
Can I donate books and other materials to the library?
Yes, we greatly appreciate donations! The library accepts materials in most formats that are clean and in good condition. We accept books (excluding encyclopedias and text books), Blu Ray, DVDs and books or music on CD or MP3.
Will my donations be added to the library’s collection?
If the items are in good condition, recently published, and not something the library already owns, they may be added to the collection.
Materials that are not selected for the collection will go to the Friends of the Library to be sold at their sales to raise money for library programs.
Do you accept donations to the library’s genealogy collection?
We welcome donations to our genealogy and local history collections. Please contact our Genealogy Staff for more information on donating to these special collections.
Where is the best place to drop off the books?
If you have a few items, you’re welcome to bring them to the circulation desk anytime. If you have a large number of donations, we suggest that you park by the library’s back door. Please call ahead for a large donation, 667-6363, so that we can have someone available to assist you.
Can I get a bookplate in my donated item?
We are happy to put bookplates or labels on donations that are added to our collection. Please write out the wording you would like us to use.
Want a receipt?
We will give you a form to fill out and list the numbers and kinds of items you are donating so you have that for your records. If you are donating lots of materials, we suggest that you count the number of each type (hardback books, paperback books, DVDs, books on CD, etc.) before you come in so it is easy for you to do the form.
Our receipts do not have values and we do not supply values for donated items. This is up to you to take care of by having an appraisal done by a professional or by contacting the Internal Revenue Service for information on values for tax purposes.