Whether the goal is de-cluttering, helping the library, or both, book donations are strong at Warren Public Library.

The Friends of the Warren Library Association accepts donations of books from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first Monday of each month and from 3 to 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. This month is an exception to the third-Thursday timing, with donation hours from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, which will be the fourth Thursday of the month.

“We’ll take hard cover, paperback, fiction, non-fiction, and vintage books,” Friends of the Warren Library Association Vice-President Casey Johnson said.

The organization also accepts DVDs, CDs, puzzles, and games.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Friends of Warren Library Association board member Sally Beckerink (left) discusses the disposition of a donated book with Friends Vice-President Casey Johnson.

The list of items not accepted includes: older textbooks; encyclopedias; dictionaries; Bibles, Reader’s Digest books; magazines; VHS tapes, cassette tapes; and vinyl records.

Donated items can be taken to the library’s Book Cellar for sale, held for the annual book sale, or, if the Friends think they won’t be able to sell them, sent to a thrift sale or recycler.

On Monday, Johnson and fellow board member Sally Beckerink, accepted numerous donations – mostly hardcovers in a variety of genres. They looked through the donated items to make sure they were up to standards – “all items must be pleasing to the eye and nose and ear,” according to the donation rules – then diverted them to the proper destinations.

There were already several boxes full of books on the desk when Randy Gustafson came in with a delivery of five boxes of cooking and sewing books.

While the goal of Monday’s event was to collect books, the board members kept an eye out for people interested in joining the organization. “We’re always looking for new board members,” Johnson said.