Donations and Gifts
FAQ’s
Your contributions have made a real difference in our community, and I’m often asked, “How can I help the library?” I’d like to share a few ways you can continue to support us:
Direct Donations to the Library: Your generous donations help fund books, special projects like craft activities or educational programming, and contribute to the day-to-day maintenance and operation of the library. A large portion of our operating budget relies on the kindness of donors like you, including memorial donations.
Friends of the Library: The Friends of the Library have just sent out their annual membership appeal. Your membership supports a wide variety of programs and activities for both children and adults. These programs would not be possible without the dedication of the Friends of the Library. Membership starts at just $15, but larger donations are always welcomed and greatly appreciated!
The Hayward Library Foundation (HLF): The HLF also sent out their Annual Holiday Appeal. Their mission is to build an endowment and provide ongoing financial support to the library. This year, the HLF will be granted $21,000 in 2024 and $32,000 in 2025 to the library from their endowment, which helps us continue to offer valuable resources to the community.
Beyond financial contributions, there are other ways you can support the library:
Volunteer: Whether directly at the library or with the Friends of the Library or HLF, we always appreciate extra hands and hearts. Volunteers are vital to helping us expand our services and programs.
Attend Programs or Spread the Word: Participate in the many wonderful programs we offer, or if you can’t attend, help by telling friends and family about what’s happening at the library.
Advocacy: If you haven’t already, consider thanking your County council member for supporting our library’s budget funding, which includes an additional $35,000 for our repairs/Capital Improvements, programs and services for 2026.
How can I donate?
Supporting your local library provides a meaningful opportunity to create a lasting legacy. When you, your business or organization make a major contribution, the library will dedicate one of the approximately dozen shelving units in your name or the name you have chosen to honor.
Contributions of $100 or more are acknowledged on our Wall of Honor in the lobby.
Other ways to donate include:
- Monetary Gifts
- Real Estate
- Bequests and Wills
- Stocks and Bonds
- Life Insurance and Annuities
The library cannot accept gifts via credit card at this time.
Please print, fill out and return a library Donation Form with your monetary gift. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Please make checks payable to:
Sherman & Ruth Weiss Community Library
10788 State Hwy 27/77
PO Box 917
Hayward, WI 54843
Please contact Library Director Ann Larson at 715-634-2161, extension 14 or email [email protected].
All information will be kept confidential.
Donate Materials
Please call the library at 715-634-2161 to arrange a time to drop off donations.
The library and Friends of the Library happily accept:
- gently-used books
- current magazines, up to one year old
- CDs
- DVDs
- Please do NOT donate items with missing covers, heavy dirt, animal residue, water or smoke damage, mold or bad smells.
- If you have a large quanity of donations or want to ensure they are within donation guidelines, please be sure to call the library first at 715-634-2161.
Much of our library material comes from generous contributions made by the community and visitors. When items are donated, first the staff checks if we can use them on our shelves. If not needed, items are sold in our Friends of the Library Used Book Room. The Friends use proceeds from the Used Book Room to purchase items the library needs, but are not covered by the regular budget.
Hayward Library Foundation
Another way to help insure our library’s future is to contribute to the Hayward Library Foundation, LTD (HLF).
Please go to HLF’s webpage or
contact Library Director Ann Larson
at 715-634-2161, extension 14 or email [email protected].
All information will be kept confidential.
Friends of the Library
Another way to help insure our library’s future is to contribute to the Friends of the Library (FOL).They sponsor most of the library programs for children, families, and adults, including the very successful annual Summer Reading Program. They also purchase such as new computers for the public and other items beyond the library’s budget.
Please go to FOL’s webpage for their membership/donation form and you can drop off the completed form at the library’s Friends Book Room or mail it to:
P.O. Box 265
Hayward, WI 54843
or contact Library Director, Ann Larson
at 715-634-2161, extension 14 or email [email protected].
All information will be kept confidential.