Carlsbad City Library receives tremendous support from the following organizations.

Visit for more information:

• Carlsbad Library and Arts Foundation 
• Friends of the Carlsbad Library
• North San Diego County Genealogical Society
• Carlsbad Friends of the Arts

Becoming a Volunteer

Volunteers play an integral role in making Carlsbad City Library a great place to learn, read and connect with others. Opportunities include tutoring adults to improve their reading and writing, helping students with homework, delivering books to those who can’t get to the library and more. Please note volunteer opportunities are limited and not all applicants will be selected. Submit your Library Volunteer Application.

For current volunteering opportunities in all city departments, visit the city volunteering website. 

The Carlsbad City Library accepts books, magazines, DVDs and audiobooks that are in very good condition at all three library locations.

Materials may be dropped off at Carlsbad City Library locations during open hours or left in the donation bins. Staff will evaluate materials for use by the library. Materials the library cannot use will go to the Friends of the Carlsbad Library to sell in their bookstore and book sales.

The library is unable to accept:

• Books that are dirty or damaged
• Textbooks 
• Encyclopedias more than five years old
• News magazines older than one month
• General magazines older than one year
• Computer and travel books more than five years old
• Reader’s Digest books
• Computers, typewriters or other used office equipment
• Music CDs, cassettes or vinyl records
• Any other household items

Thank you for helping us manage our donations.

The library accepts tax deductible donations to support library programs and services or purchase library materials.

Donations may be made in the following ways:

• PayPal: The City of Carlsbad accepts credit and debit card donations through PayPal’s secured website donation service. PayPal will deduct 30¢ plus a 2.9% service fee from each transaction. 
• By cash: Cash donations can be made at any library facility.
• By check: Donations made by check can be dropped off at any library facility or mailed directly to the Carlsbad City Library at 1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad, CA 92011. Checks may be made out to Carlsbad City Library.

To make a gift through your donor advised fund or trust, please contact your financial advisor or trust administrator directly for details.

Carlsbad City Library is recognized as a qualified charitable organization under IRS Code Section 170(c)(1). All gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. The city’s tax identification number for tax purposes is 95-6004793. 

Carlsbad City Library accepts donations per City of Carlsbad Gift Acceptance and Recognition Policy. 

Monetary donations may also be used to celebrate a special occasion or remember a loved one. If requested, a special bookplate will be placed in all items purchased with your donation. (PayPal donors: there is a small text box if you would like to direct your donation or be contacted for additional detail.)

Let the library know:

• A general description of what to buy such as children's books, fiction, nonfiction, CDs, DVDs or audiobooks, eBooks, etc.
• If the donated item(s) should go to Dove Library, Cole Library or the Library Learning Center
• If the donation is in memory or in celebration of someone
• Donor contact information including name, address and phone number (or email address if through PayPal).

Carlsbad City Library accepts donations per City of Carlsbad Gift Acceptance and Recognition Policy.

Authors who would like to donate a copy of their work to the library may do so. Self-published books that fit the library’s scope and meet the selection criteria in the library’s Collection Development Policy may be added to the library’s collection.

• Donated items become the property of the library. Review copies are not accepted.
• Donating a book does not guarantee it will be added to the collection. Books that are not added are passed to the Friends of the Carlsbad Library to be sold in a Friends Bookstore. Sale proceeds supplement the library materials and programs budgets.
• Due to the number of submissions received, staff are unable to notify authors of the decision.

Qualifying authors based in San Diego County are encouraged to consider participating in our annual Local Author Fair.