Gifts of Books and Other Library Materials

The Eisenhower Library welcomes donations of library materials, printed works, manuscripts and other resources, supporting the research mission of the university. Gifts may supply materials hard to obtain by other means.

Gifts Process

Potential donors of library collections should contact the library's Development Office (410-516-8327), which will refer the donor either to the Head of Collection Management [Elizabeth Mengel, 410-516-0809] or to Rare Books and Manuscripts.

The Rare Books and Manuscripts Department welcomes gifts of rare books and manuscripts, such as personal papers of Hopkins faculty and students. Please contact the Head of Rare Books and Manuscripts [410-516-8348] for further information.

Gifts to the General Collections will be reviewed by the Head of Collection Management and the appropriate subject specialist.  A decision will be made based on the utility of the gift to the university community and the condition of the materials.  Gifts may be shipped to the library or picked up by the library by arrangement with the donor.

If a gift is picked up the Gift Pick-up Receipt is given to the Donor Signed.  The Donor is asked to sign the Gifts-in-Kind Receipt.

Unsolicited gifts:
Monday-Friday - unsolicited gifts can be dropped off in the Monographs Unit of the Acquisitions Department on A-level between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM
All Other Times - unsolicted gifts can be dropped off at the Circulation Desk.
We do not provide acknowledgement of unsolicited gifts.

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Gifts Policies:

Review of Gift Materials:

Potential donors should understand that any materials that are donated become the property of the Library. The library retains the right to add to the collections or to dispose of materials as it judges appropriate. The Library is not obligated to notify the donor about these individual decisions, especially in the case of an unsolicited gift, nor is it obligated to return materials to the donor. As a matter of policy, the library does not accept titles inappropriate to an academic collection, fragmentary runs of journals, or books that are underlined, mutilated, or otherwise in poor condition, or titles excessively duplicating existing library holdings.

Acknowledgments & Appraisals: 

Gifts are acknowledged by the library as proof of donation for Internal Revenue Service purposes. However, the Libraries do not acknowledge unsolicited gifts. In keeping with IRS rulings, the library cannot provide the donor with a valuation of the collection received. However, the library can advise on securing an independent appraisal to be made at the donor's expense.

Antiquarian Booksellers of American has an extensive directory of memebers. 

Information from Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of Association of Research and College Libraries on "Your Old Books."  

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