Posted by Amber on Sunday, Nov 24, 2024
The Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation (ICPLFF) has teamed up with the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center to introduce a new community program that encourages residents to donate and recycle their unwanted books. This initiative aims to ensure that usable, quality books find new homes, while those beyond repair are recycled, helping to keep them out of the landfill.
“While recycling is beneficial, it is even better if we can reduce and reuse whenever possible. Continuing to use quality books if they are intact is more impactful in reducing our climate footprint than just recycling them. Making this program even more sustainable, we are thrilled that funds raised through this program can offer direct support to our local public library, a vital community resource,” stated Jane Wilch, Recycling Coordinator.
Supporting the Iowa City Public Library and caring for the planet is easy—just self-sort your used books and other accepted media at either the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center or the Iowa City Public Library. Materials that meet donation criteria at the Landfill will be sent to Thrift Books for online sales which are expected to generate about $10,000 annually for the Library.
Materials donated at the Library generate about $30,000 annually and are sold online, at book sales, and at The Book End bookstore located on the second floor of the Library.
Donate and recycle books at the following locations at no cost!
(Hours and accepted items vary per location.)
Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center (3900 Hebl Ave. SW, Iowa City)
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Self-service book collection containers are located in the electronic recycling garage bay along the back wall. A maximum of six boxes is allowed without an appointment.
Accepted Items:
All types of books, including encyclopedias and textbooks
Audiobooks on CD
DVDs in original case
Not Accepted Items:
Books that are moldy, wet, or infested (with bed bugs, etc.)
VHS tapes, cassette tapes, or CDs
Iowa City Public Library (123 S Linn St. Iowa City)
Hours: Donations are accepted anytime the Library is open. Visit www.icpl.org for current hours of operation.
Bring items to the Help Desk on the first floor of the library. A maximum of two boxes is allowed without an appointment. Email development@ICPL.org or call 319-356-5185 to arrange an appointment or ask questions about your donation.
Accepted Items:
Recently-released books (within the last five years) are preferred!
Most types of books
Audiobooks on CD
DVDs in original case
Not Accepted Items:
Books that are moldy, wet, or infested (with bed bugs, etc.)
VHS tapes, cassette tapes
Encyclopedias
For library questions, please contact Katie Roche, Development Director, at 319-356-5249 or KatieRoche@icpl.org.
For recycling questions, please contact Jane Wilch, Recycling Coordinator, at 319-887-6110 or Jane-Wilch@iowa-city.org.
This article was originally published in the Iowa City Public Library Window Winter 2024/2025. You can view the issue in its entirety here.
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