Grinnell College Libraries Gift Policy
Since their founding, the Grinnell College Libraries have
benefited from gifts of books and other materials. We welcome
donations that fall within the scope of our collections
and that support the college's curriculum and research needs.
We are happy to accept materials that are scholarly or rare
that will benefit today’s students and the students of tomorrow.
Gifts of Money
Funds for library purposes are always welcome. Information
on making a designated gift to the Grinnell College Libraries
may be obtained from the Librarian of the College or Grinnell
College’s Office of Alumni Relations and Development.
Gifts of Materials
Grinnell College Libraries accept gifts of books and other
library materials with the understanding that, upon receipt,
Grinnell College becomes the owner of the materials. The
collection development librarian, with advice from the Librarian of the College, will select materials for inclusion into
the libraries’ collections based on their present and future
value to our students, faculty, and staff, and on their
condition. We reserve the right to handle materials that
are duplicates, or otherwise unsuited for the collection,
as we feel will best serve Grinnell College. This may be
through donation to another institution, sale, trade, or
recycling. The libraries will normally not accept restricted
donations.
No library collects everything, and every gift requires
evaluation for its suitability to the collection and its
condition before a decision is made to catalog, process,
and shelve it. For this reason, we carefully evaluate all
potential gifts in order to use the libraries’ resources
wisely. Large collections that are not suited for the Grinnell
College Libraries will be regretfully declined. We may be
able to assist the would-be donor in finding more appropriate
locations for his or her materials.
Appraisals and Tax Information
Donors are required by the Internal Revenue Service to obtain
their own evaluations. As an interested party, the Grinnell
College Libraries are not allowed to provide appraisals.
We may be able to suggest alternative avenues for determining
value. The libraries will acknowledge all gifts by letter.
Additional acknowledgement may be received from Grinnell
College’s Office of Alumni Relations and Development. Limitations
of staff prevent us from preparing lists of gifts received.
Delivering Gifts of Materials
Small gifts, usually a boxful or less, may be delivered
directly to the collection development librarian. Arrangements
for the delivery of larger gifts should be made through
the Librarian of the College.
