Support Your Library

The Library accepts donations of new and used books and audio visual materials. (We may accept donations of materials other than books or audiovisual items.  Please email us to inquire.) The acceptance of a donation does not mean the Library will automatically add the donation to the collection as each year we receive many hundreds of donated items.  Items you have donated may be sold or discarded as the Library chooses. 

We can accept a maximum donation of 20 items per household.  If you have more than 20 items to donate, please call ahead to make sure we are able to accept the donation—storage space is limited.  The Library does not evaluate any materials for tax receipt purposes.  Please call 705-325-2556 or email us for more information.

What We Currently Accept:

• Recent bestsellers
• Books that have been published in the last five years, and are in excellent condition
• DVDs, music CDs and video games

What We Do Not Accept:

• Items in poor condition, for example items with yellowing pages, musty or moldy books
• Large quantities of used items
• Encyclopedias
• Textbooks
  
• Reference books
• Coffee table books
• Reader's Digest Condensed Books
• Dated information (old travel guides, medical and science books)
• Magazines
• VHS and cassette tapes

Please drop off your donations at the Check Out Desk during Library hours.  Unfortunately, the Library is unable to pick up donations.  

Please examine each item to make sure it meets the donation guidelines. By only donating materials that we can accept, you are saving the library the precious time and resources required to handle and dispose of unusable material.  If donations do not meet the guidelines above, the items will not be accepted by the library.  

What can I do with materials the library cannot accept?

Recycle! Reuse!

Most thrift stores accept books and other materials as donations or you may decide to recycle your books or magazines. Please note that the City of Orillia requires you to remove the cover of any hard cover book before placing it in your recycling bin.

Why become a Library volunteer?

• a great way to learn more about the Library
• meet new people
• gain experience
• give back to the community
• get student community service hours
• share your skills and experience with us

How do I become a Library volunteer?

• Stop by any service desk and pick up an volunteer application
• Fill out the volunteer application and return it to the Library
• If a volunteer position is available you will be contacted for an interview
• Training and orientation will follow

What do Library Volunteers do?

• Shelve books
• Make sure books are in correct order
• Bring Library materials to housebound patrons
• Help out at events
• Assist with other jobs as needed

Find out more.

The Orillia Public Library is pleased to be part of the Born to Read initiative. We have joined with Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (OSMH) and Manticore Books to support early literacy.

Your donation will support the Born to Read initiative with a gift that includes a literacy bag, two books, information on library programs, and membership in the baby damage protection plan for newborns. 

The baby damage protection plan ensures that any damage done to library materials will not be charged to new parents for the baby's first two years. The literacy bags will be given out to all babies born at the hospital.

A tax deductible receipt will be issued to those who donate $10 or more to this project.

To give the gift of reading to new parents and babies in our area, please donate in one of the following ways:

• Donate online (Please select Born to Read in the 'Fund' drop-down menu)
• In person at the Orillia Public Library by cheque, cash, debit or Visa.  (Cheques should be made payable to Orillia Public Library)
• Download donation form and mail to:
  Born to Read
  Orillia Public Library
  36 Mississaga Street West
  Orillia, ON
  L3V 3A6

 Please call us at 705-325-2338 or email us for more information.