Library Donations

collage of three images of a c-pen scanner reading a print book, a heart-shaped Canadian flag, front view of central branch

Every year the Library receives generous contributions from people in our community. Each gift provides a living legacy that enables so many others to explore and enjoy words, music, and visuals. Burlington Public Library is a registered charitable organization that gratefully accepts bequests, memorials, individual, business and organization donations, and other gifts.

Pay It Forward

When you miss a due date, in place of paying a fine penalty, Pay It Forward by making a monetary gift of any size to help make the library collection bigger and better for everyone in the community. You can make a donation online through CanadaHelps or in person by debit, credit card, cash, or cheque at any branch.

Honour With Books

Honour With Books is a unique way to pay tribute to a friend, relative, colleague, or group on a special occasion. Celebrate a life or a milestone with a gift that will bring pleasure to others. Your gift will help the public library build its collection for the enrichment and enjoyment of the entire community.

For more information about our Honour with Books donor program, please call Cindy at 905.639.3611 ext 1103. If you wish to make a donation online, you can do so through CanadaHelps. A charitable tax receipt is provided as soon as your payment is received.

 

The McEwen Fund provides an annual interest income that enables Burlington Public Library to acquire technology, equipment, and resources that will enhance library services and collections for people in our community with low or no vision. The Fund is administered by the Burlington Foundation.

The Millicent W. McEwen Endowment Fund was established in 2002 from the generous gift of a bequest for nearly $250,000. Since then, people with vision loss across our city have benefited in many ways:

  • Adaptive reading technologies at all library locations, such as the Optelec Reader (video magnifier).

  • Large screen computer monitors at select public work stations and in the Ron Ness Training Room at Central Library

  • Expanded collection of audiobooks, Books-on-CD and MP3, DAISY books, and large print books.

  • Improved accessibility of the library's website with ReachDeck (formerly BrowseAloud) technology. 

In 2007 and 2010, the Library received generous bequests from the estate of lifelong Aldershot resident and long-time library customer Mae Beatrice Broadbent. The bequests, totalling $98,850, fund a permanent endowment from which annual contributions support the purchase of large print books.

In October 2015, BPL transferred management of the Fund to the Burlington Foundation (BF). With the interest earned on the bequest, BF received $112,226.83 for the endowment fund.

Thanks to this generous bequest directed towards the purchase of print and non-print non-fiction items, Burlington Public Library annually enhances such collections as art, history, business, science, and English as a Second Language books, as well as popular classes in the Great Courses lecture series, available in both DVD and Book-on-CD formats.