From: Tom Izbicki <izbicki_at_jhu.edu>
A gifts policy needs to make it clear that you do not accept things out of
scope or in rotten condition. It also needs to deal with the difference
between acknowledging receipt & appraisals, the latter being paid by the
donor to an appraiser per IRS rules.
Outside the policy, I think it is wise to redirect donors when appropriate.
If there is some other library nearby that might be interested, then it is
wise to connect that institution with the donor - but one needs to be
reasonably sure that they might be interested. Also, there always are gift
sale people, like the Smith College alumni chapter, esp. for items unlikely
to be wanted by anyone for their own collections.
Tom Izbicki
Johns Hopkins
===========================================================
To: lsipe_at_usc.edu, abbottjp_at_conrad.appstate.edu
Policies on Gifts/Donations/etc., have 2 aspects: how the gift will be
received & how it will be handled after receipt.
In my experience, the "handled" part is relatively simple -- policies usually
state that donated/gift materials will be evaluated & selected for the
collection according to the *same* criteria as new materials being considered
for purchase & materials that aren't added to the collection can be disposed
of by sale, exchange with other libraries, donation to other libraries, or
destruction (when all else fails).
Receipts of materials should be welcome as long as the materials are given
without strings attached (favorite strings are you must keep the gift items
together as a collection forever, build a room to house it, hire a librarian
to administer it, etc.).
Some policies say the library won't provide dollar-figure evaluations of the
gifts for tax purposes -- for example, when I was a *real* librarian, I gave
donors letters thanking them for the donation of x books or y recordings, but
didn't say what they were worth -- but others state the library will give
estimates (because they have the expertise to do so) or will obtain these for
donors if the donors will pay the expert evaluator's fee. How this is
handled depends on the library & the kind of staff it employs, & how much
work it is willing to do on behalf of the donor.
I think the basic philosophy of gifts ought to be one of taking the long view
-- someone who gives you a couple of junky old books today, if treated well &
respectfully, could die & leave the library a million dollars or an equally
valuable rare book collection a few years down the road. You just never know
& your ATTITUDE is more important in cultivating good will & future donations
than what you do with a particular load of books or videos.
No library should be forced to accept junk it doesn't need just to toady to
donors, but donors shouldn't be treated as though the library was doing them
a favor by taking their gifts. Gifts should be mutually beneficial, making
the donor feel appreciated & satisfied, & making the library feel
appreciative & satisfied.
Having said all this, I know that there is a wonderful new book on gifts --
published within the last year or so -- but, like a true user, I can't
remember the title or the author. I'm pretty sure you can find it via a
subject search. Al Lane's book titled GIFTS AND EXCHANGES, I think, used to
be the "bible" on the subject, but it is long out-of-date.
Good luck with your gift policy.
Sheila S. Intner
Professor, Simmons College Graduate School of Library & Information Science
===========================================================
From: "Marvin C. Guilfoyle" <mg29_at_evansville.edu>
We evaluate gifts by the same standards as purchases. Our gift policy
is available at
http://www2.evansville.edu/libweb/libservices/cd/pm9420.htm
Marvin Guilfoyle
Acquisitions & Collection Development Librarian
University of Evansville Library
1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
Voice: (812) 479-2247 Fax: (812) 471-6996
===========================================================
From: DeMeglio <whopster_at_gte.net>
When we receive a donation at the Hurst Public Library (a medium size
library), we make certain the patron understands that anything donated to our
library becomes the property of the library and that we may or may not add it
to our collection. If the materials donated are in good condition, has
current information, and is needed in our collection, then it is added. If it
is something we cannot use, it is then passed on to our Friends of the Library
group, and they put the item(s) in their semi-annual book sale.
Hope this helps.
Ramona DeMeglio
Lynn Sipe lsipe_at_usc.edu
Director, Collection Resources & 213/740-2929
Director, Information Delivery Organization & Retrieval 213/821-1617 (fax)
University Libraries
Information Services Division
c/o IDOR, UVI-A
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0182
Received on Sat Feb 12 2000 - 12:17:20 EST