The Mason City Public Library encourages individuals, organizations, foundations, and businesses to support library services through gifts and memorials. Gifts or books and other library materials shall be judged by the same criteria used in selecting items for purchase by MCPL. It is the library's general policy to only accept materials without restrictions on their use although requests will be considered on a case by case basis by the Director and Board of Trustees. All donations, real, material, or financial, become the property of the Mason City Public Library.

The library will maintain a development program seeking to identify potential benefactors, and provide them with a current list of needs. Assistance to individuals, organizations, foundations, and businesses considering a gift or establishment of a bequest is available from the Director.

Funds received as gifts or bequests for memorials shall be reserved for the purchase of materials or equipment, or special programs, which in the judgment of the Trustees and Director, meet the needs and goals of the Mason City Public Library.

Gifts and bequests or real or personal property are accepted by the library with the understanding that such gifts may be used at the discretion of the library, or disposed of for value, when deemed necessary or desirable. Gift waiver forms are available for those desiring formal recognition of gift, or who need a receipt for tax purposes. In such instances, this form must be completed before final acceptance of real or personal property by the library. The library reserves the right to refuse gifts of books or magazines that are damp, contaminated with mold or mildew, or otherwise unacceptable in the judgment of the library staff. The library will only accept one year's subscription number of magazines (for example, twelve issues).

The library cannot assume responsibility for replacing worn or lost copies of materials donated as gifts, nor for purchasing new or revised editions of titles previously donated as gifts or memorials.

It is generally the policy of the library not to accept special collections of books to be kept together as a separate physical entity. All gift materials will be integrated into the library collection in a manner consistent with everyday library procedure.

Book plates, identification plaques, or other appropriate recognition identifying the donor or person being honored may be displayed on items acquired through funds received by bequests of gifts.

From time to time the library may actively seek donations of funds, coupons, discounts, sponsorships, materials, or other items for use in a special program for library users. In general these gifts will be treated in a manner consistent with the policy where possible. Special treatment for such benefactors can be obtained through permission of the Board of Trustees.

Unsolicited gifts by corporate or other business organizations will be treated in a manner consistent with this policy. It will be the general policy of the Board of Trustees not to accept unsolicited gifts for the purpose of advertising individual companies or products.

The staff of the Mason City Public Library is not able to appraise or give a monetary value to donated materials.