Gifts Policy
Used Materials

The Library appreciates gifts to provide additional materials, perhaps not otherwise available which will enhance the collection and support the academic programs of the university. Potential donors should understand that any donated materials become the property of Rice Library. Materials will be accepted only after a review by the Library staff to determine whether they are appropriate for the library's collection.

Appropriate Materials
Selected gifts of books, recent paperbacks, complete volumes of journals, videos, music CD's, manuscripts, and other appropriate materials are welcomed. Materials should be in good condition.

Inappropriate Materials
Items with mold or mildew damage cannot be used by the library because of their potential to damage the rest of the collection. As a matter of library policy, Rice Library does not accept the following:

• Titles inappropriate to an academic library
• Fragmentary runs of popular journals
• Books that are underlined, mutilated, or otherwise in poor condition
• Titles excessively duplicating existing library holdings

Outdated textbooks, light romance novels, Reader's Digest Condensed Books, and similar types of material are not appropriate for the collection. (The public libraries, nursing home, Goodwill, and book resale shops may want these for book sales or resident entertainment.)

Delivery of Materials
Donations should be delivered to Library Administration (library room 205) during normal business hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Donations made after business hours but during public hours may be received at the checkout counter. (Prior notification of sizeable donations is greatly appreciated.)

Donation Acknowledgement/Tax Issues
The library acknowledges in-kind gifts with a letter that may be used for Internal Revenue Service purposes. However, the library cannot provide the donor with a valuation of the collection received. (The IRS considers the library, or an library employee, an "interested party" who may not appraise donations.) Therefore, the responsibility for establishing the fair market value of a gift item lie with the donor.

Library Rights
It should be understood that the Library...

• May ask to review material prior to acceptance
• May request an inventory of potential donations
• May refuse material that is already held in the collection or does not meet collection needs
• Reserves the right to process, use, house, add to, keep, or dispose of donated materials or collections as appropriate
• Is not obligated to notify the donor about these individual decisions
• Is not obligated to return materials to the donor; unselected gift material will be disposed of in accordance with current state regulations.

You may contact Martha Niemeier at 812/464-1834 to discuss or arrange possible donations, or in the event that you have any additional questions.