Can I donate my books to the library?
Can I donate my books to the library?
Answer
Library Gifts-in-Kind [11/15/2023 update]
General Gift-in-Kind Guidelines
The San Diego State University Library considers accepting donations of books and other materials to strengthen the library’s collections and support the instructional and research programs of San Diego State University.
All donated items become the permanent property of San Diego State University, and the library assumes the responsibility of determining the retention, placement within the collection, location, cataloging treatment, and any other considerations relating to the use and disposition of the material(s).
The library does not accept materials dropped off at the library that have not been accepted through completion of the formal donation procedure (see below). Insurance restrictions prohibit the SDSU Library from holding materials on-site that it does not own.
Formal Donation Procedure
Those who wish to donate materials to the library should first read the Library Gift in Kind Materials Transfer Form and Instructions. Please contact the SDSU Library Head of Library Collections at librarycollections@sdsu.edu to begin the process. Also, note that the Library may decline to accept material(s) based upon condition, lack of curricular or research need, and due to space constraints of the Library at any given time.
Appraisal. Library personnel cannot provide appraisals, referrals to appraisers or tax advice.
Individual gift books from librarians
If you are a librarian who has approved of a small number of individual gift books (3-5) to be added to the collection, you should give the book(s) to the Head or Assistant Head of Collection Development, or you may place them in the Collections mailbox in the mailroom, including information about who is donating the material and designating if a gift note is requested for the catalog record. To provide consistent workflow for acquisitions staff, any individual gift books received and approved by the librarian subject specialists and given to acquisitions staff will be reported to the head or assistant of collections for acknowledgement before being added to the collection.