How to donate a personalised bookplate for a new purchase

A personalised bookplate is a small label placed inside a book’s front cover. It records the giver, the person being honoured, or both, making a new purchase feel personal while directing support toward a community library.

To donate a personalized bookplate for a new purchase, purchase the book through a participating fundraiser and ask for a plate funded as a gift. The book may remain yours, or you can separately donate it to the collection.

Crestline Friends of the Library supports children’s and teen programmes, books and other resources. Australians can contribute through memberships, fundraising events, direct giving and commemorative gifts adapted to local costs and privacy expectations.

Keep the gift and the donation distinct

A bookplate donation does not automatically transfer the book to Crestline Library. If you are keeping the book, fund only the plate; if you want the physical book added to the collection, agree that arrangement with the Friends before checkout.

The annual Memorial Day Book Sale is a natural place to ask. Current event arrangements, contact details, meeting dates and fundraising news are listed by Friends of the Library. Ask whether plates are being offered for each sale purchase and note any ordering deadline.

Choose a book that fits the reader

Australian readers often buy from Dymocks, Booktopia, independent bookshops and op shops in Sydney, Melbourne or regional centres. Select a clean, undamaged book that suits the intended reader, especially a children’s or teen title likely to circulate locally.

If the book will stay with you, a plate can acknowledge your gift. If it will enter the library, check the collection first and give the Friends time to catalogue it. New books sold at Australian retailers are generally GST-free, although a separate donation or shipping fee can still apply.

Write an inscription that stays meaningful

Keep the wording brief: “Presented by the Brown Family,” “In memory of Margaret,” or “Given in support of young readers.” Include the donor’s preferred name, and add a date only if it marks something significant. Australian dates are usually written day, month and year.

Avoid private information or lengthy tributes, especially on a plate visible when the book circulates. Australian donors can ask how their details are stored; the Privacy Act 1988 and its Australian Privacy Principles provide a useful benchmark for handling personal information. Compare proportions and legibility using bookplate design resources before approving the final copy.

Confirm the order before leaving the checkout

Ask whether the organiser prints the plate or expects you to supply it. Provide the wording exactly, including capitalisation and punctuation, and confirm the quantity, price, production lead time and pickup or postage arrangements. A clear record prevents a sentimental inscription from being altered.

If a fundraising supplier handles personalised labels, check the current specification against MDFirst ordering guidance and the seller’s instructions. The California sale falls on the last Monday in May, after ANZAC Day in Australia, so international buyers need extra time for production and postage.

Keep the financial details clear

Ask what the donation includes, whether it is charged separately from the book and which currency applies. Keep any receipt, remembering that a US charity receipt does not by itself create a tax deduction for an Australian resident. For larger gifts, check any Australian tax consequences with a registered tax adviser.

Also ask what happens if the plate is unavailable or damaged. Agree on a replacement, refund or alternative inscription, and retain the purchase record until the bookplate has arrived or the order has been completed.

Check the details before checkout

Use two short checklists so the donation, inscription and payment remain aligned.

Before contacting the organiser:

• Choose a book and decide who will receive it.
• Draft the inscription and preferred donor name.
• Confirm the sale date and plate-order deadline.
• Check postage timing if collection is not possible.

After receiving confirmation:

• Recheck spelling, dates and capitalisation.
• Record the amount paid and collect the receipt.
• Confirm placement inside the front cover.
• Save the organiser’s contact details for queries.

Give the gift a lasting place in the collection

Contact the Friends using the details published on their website, ask whether a suitable book can be reserved, and request a personalised plate during checkout. Supply the approved wording, ask for an official receipt and allow time for production before the Memorial Day Book Sale.

Your support can give a child or teenager a book they are excited to read while helping Crestline maintain welcoming, well-stocked library programmes. Make the donation specific, thoughtful and easy for the library team to complete.