Policies & Procedures Regarding Gifts of Materials
Effective 2012, Kresge Library no longer accepts unsolicited donations of materials dropped off at the Library without advance notice. If you would like to make a donation of materials, we request that you discuss your donation with us first before delivering materials to the Library. We will ask you to prepare a detailed title list as part of this new process.
Kresge Library welcomes the opportunity to discuss with potential donors the possibility of contributing materials to our collection. Such gifts can enhance the Library's collections in a variety of ways, thereby enriching the resources available to OU students, faculty and the larger community.
We do not accept the following types of gift materials:
- Textbooks
- Popular magazines
- Mass-market publications
- Self-published books
- Journal issues
- Material in poor condition (e.g. brittle, heavily marked, highlighted, etc.)
- Superseded formats (e.g., LPs, 8-track tapes)
- Material that might cause the Library to be liable for copyright infringement (i.e., illegally copied audio and video recordings).
Making a Donation
Gifts of material are diverse in source and come to the Library after a preliminary discussion and evaluation. In all cases, we’d like to discuss your donation with you, before you deliver the material to the Library. The Coordinator will need a list of the items before determination can be made concerning acceptance. If you are considering donating to the library, please contact the Collection Development Librarian, Helen Levenson, at hlevenson@oakland.edu (248-370-2497) to discuss your proposed gift.
The Kresge Library does not accept unsolicited donations that are dropped off at the Library. After a preliminary discussion and evaluation of the materials, it is the responsibility of the donor to arrange for delivery of books and other material to the Library. Please ensure that all books and other items are in boxes or sturdy bags with your name and phone number attached. In addition, we require a Kresge Library Donor Record Form to be completed and submitted with each donation. If the materials are not accepted by the Library, we recommend donating them to your local public library or charity.
Acceptance of Gifts
All books and other library materials given to Kresge Library become the property of Oakland University. The Library will add to its collections only gift material that supports the research and teaching mission of the university and, in most cases, titles added will be integrated into existing collections that are available for all of the Library’s users. The Library holds the right to determine retention, location, circulation, cataloging treatment, design and use of bookplates, processing details and final disposition of the gift. Donations not selected for addition to our collection may be donated to other institutions, sold, recycled, or discarded. We regret that we are not able to notify donors of the final disposition of their gifts or return items not added to our collection.
Tax Considerations
Due to legal restrictions, the library is unable to provide appraisals. Gifts of materials worth more than $5,000 must first be accepted at the University level and an appraisal, at the donor's expense, is required from an independent qualified appraiser. Donors of gifts with an estimated value more than $500 should read IRS publication 526, Charitable Contributions, and/or publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property, both available from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. It is always best for donors to review this and other important tax matters with their own tax advisor or attorney.
Acknowledgement of Gifts
Donations should be accompanied by a completed and signed Kresge Library Donor Record Form. The Library will send a letter acknowledging receipt of the gift shortly after the donation has been received. Typically, our acknowledgement includes the date of receipt and a brief description of the gift. The letter will not state the value claimed by you. We recommend that each donor prepare a detailed title list to include with the donation.
For More Information
If you have questions or need additional information about making a gift of materials, please contact Helen Levenson, at hlevenson@oakland.edu or 248-370-2497.
Policy updated December 2012