Sidebar

Main Content

Gifts

The library solicits and welcomes gifts of books, journals, and items in other formats, as well as gifts of money for the purchase of library materials Gifts are generally expected to supplement existing collections in support of the University's teaching and research programs, or to provide the Library with a core of material in which there is a scholarly interest. To be accepted, all gifts must fall within the guidelines of the Library's collection development policies.

Anyone wishing to make a donation should get in touch with the Director for Collection Development, the Library's Development Officer, the appropriate bibliographer, or call the Library's Gifts and Exchange Section (215) 898-4925. Before accepting any gift, Library staff will carefully review the material in order to determine its suitability for Penn's collections. Should it be necessary for the Library to decline a gift, staff will suggest potential alternative institutions or collections.

Once a gift has been accepted, it becomes the property of the Board of Trustees of the University. The Board delegates to the Library responsibility for determining the most effective way to use the material. The library may add the items to its collections, use them for exchange purposes, or otherwise dispose of them in accordance with Library policy. In general, it is not the policy of the Library to retain duplicates or items in poor condition, or to accept conditions with regard to the processing or housing of a gift that might restrict access to the materials.

Internal Revenue Service Regulations prohibit the Library from appraising gifts. Donors who wish an appraisal of their gift for tax purposes must arrange for the services of a qualified appraiser and pay for the appraisal themselves. The library can suggest the names of suitable appraisers. Library policy and I.R.S. guidelines also prevent the library from paying for appraisals of gifts in kind.

The Director for Collection Development or another appropriate librarian will send a written acknowledgment of the gift to the donor.

Acceptance of a gift requires coordination with several library officers: the Director for Collection Development, the Director for Technical Processing, and the Library's Technical Officer. If the gift is large or requires any special processing, the librarian in contact with the donor should consult with the Director for Collection Development and the Director for Technical Processing prior to acceptance.