CDL: Refusing large book donations ??? (response 7)

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CDL: Refusing large book donations ???
From: Sarah D Tusa <sarah.tusa_at_lamar.edu>

Hi, Helen

Sometimes I wish we could declare a moratorium on on accepting donations.  As it is, we 
probably need to revisit our donations policy.   We certainly do not get the huge 
donations that you mention, but whenever someone retires, they act as if we are the 
natural recipients of their collection of textbook desk copies.  We occasionally get calls 
from individuals in the community who want to donate their personal library or that of a 
deceased spouse.   Since we have neither the space nor the staff, and have a massive 
weeding project in place, I have to explain to these good-hearted people that I cannot 
accept their donations wholesale.   If they are willing to sign the donor release form 
with the agreement that we (the library) are permitted to dispose of the books as we see 
fit (i.e., sale truck and/or eventual dumpster), then we can accept the gift.   We always 
have a bit of a backlog, and it's not going to get any better because that position was 
given to another department a few year

To a certain extent, I understand the political reasons for accepting gifts.  However, 
depending on ultimate space and staffing considerations, I think most people understand 
when I tell them that my library simply does not have the space to give their books the 
proper new home.  People tend to get emotionally attached to their books, and I understand 
that.  (I'm not quite as sympathetic toward faculty who want to claim their desk samples 
on their income tax returns, but I don't say anything, of course.)


There is a specific law that pertains to the right to dispose of unsolicited donations, 
and I can never remember the specific citation, but it's usually floating around on one of 
the listservs.  I guess I'm not quite as concerned about accidentally turning away or 
disposing of a rare book.  People usually point those out.


This rambling probably is not helping that much, but I do think the political reasons 
might be subject to closer scrutiny, unless there are administrators who are rubbing 
elbows with the donors, so to speak.  That could get sticky.


-- Sarah Tusa, Associate Professor Coordinator of Collection Development & Acquisitions 
Mary & John Gray Library Lamar University Ext. 8125