Donation Guidelines
Photo by the Murrell Creative Group, used with permission
- All books and materials donated must be in good, saleable condition (i.e., no ripped covers, not marked up, etc.).
- Please do not give us books that no one else will want.
- Please review the chart below to make sure we accept the type of item you want to donate.
- Please call and speak to a staff member before bringing in any large donations.
- We do not accept books during our semi-annual half-priced sales.
- Please bring books to the Lantern only when the store is open!
- We prefer donated books to be in boxes or very sturdy bags (it helps with storage).
- We do not offer curb service; please carry the books into the shop. Be sure to note Georgetown parking rules (e.g., 2-hour limits).
- Please talk to a staff person if you have any questions about donations.
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE BOOKS OUTSIDE WHEN THE SHOP IS CLOSED!
Tax Deduction Information
- All donations are tax-deductible.
- The IRS does not permit us to appraise donations.
- We provide a signed, non-itemized receipt for your donation, noting the number of bags/boxes donated and the date.
- To estimate the value of your donation:
- Before you bring in your books, count the number of hardbacks and paperbacks.
- Check our shelves and note our average sales prices.
- If you think a book may be of above-average value, look it up on AbeBooks before you donate it. Print out the result and keep it with your tax records.
| What We Accept and Do Not Accept | |
|---|---|
| BOOKS | YES, in good condition (No books that are dirty, water-damaged, musty, mildewed, missing pages, missing covers, broken spine, and/or falling apart) |
| ATLASES | RARELY (only antique or current) |
| AUDIO (LPs, CDs, DVDs, Books on Tape, Cassettes) | YES, with no scratches or skips; covers in good condition |
| BLANK BOOKS, CARDS | YES, if unused and in useable, saleable condition |
| BOOK ACCESSORIES | YES, for example, bookends, bookmarks in useable condition, etc. |
| CATALOGUES | NO |
| COMPUTER BOOKS | NO |
| COMIC BOOKS | NO |
| CONDENSED BOOKS | NO |
| DICTIONARIES | YES, both English and foreign language dictionaries |
| EXERCISE | NO |
| EROTICA | NO |
| FOREIGN LANGUAGE | YES |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | YES |
| LP RECORDS | YES, if not warped, broken, or with scratches or skips |
| MAGAZINES, JOURNALS, ART CATALOGUES | NO |
| MAPS | YES, folded, not rolled |
| OUTDATED BOOKS | Selected: YES, antique, rare, or classics. NO, no prior year tax guides or business books. |
| POSTCARDS | YES |
| PRINTS (e.g., art, photographs, woodblocks, lithographs, etchings, etc.) | YES, both framed and unframed |
| ROMANCE NOVELS | NO |
| SETS OF BOOKS | RARELY, we may make exceptions; please inquire |
| SHEET MUSIC | YES |
| TEXTBOOKS | NO |