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Are book donations accepted by the VCU Libraries?

Yes! Your donated books and materials can make a real difference for VCU and the VCU Libraries. Most donated materials go directly to our annual Book Sale. The Book Sale is staffed by dedicated Friends of the Library volunteers, and generates income to buy new library materials and to support Friends-sponsored programs and events.

Sometimes donated materials are appropriate for the VCU Libraries' collections, and they are added to the general collection or, in some cases, to Special Collections and Archives. Such materials must fulfill the criteria listed below. If your materials meet these criteria, please let us know, and our volunteers will make sure that your donation is reviewed by library staff for possible inclusion in the collections. However, we can’t guarantee that donated items will become part of the permanent collection.

All materials donated to the VCU Libraries become the property of Virginia Commonwealth University and cannot be returned to the donor.

What donated books are appropriate for the Book Sale?

All kinds! Our volunteers are always on the lookout for:

Hardback/paperback fiction and non-fiction
CDs, DVDs, and LPs
Comic books and graphic novels
Scholarly journals

There are some materials we can’t accept. They include:

Materials in poor condition: these may have missing pages, damaged binding, water damage, mold damage, and the like
Textbooks older than 3 years
VHS and cassette tapes
Individual issues of popular magazines. Please contact Sarah Amick or Antonia FD Vassar if you wish to donate bound periodicals, unusual or specialty magazines.
Encyclopedia sets
Computer software and manuals
Reader’s Digest Condensed books
Training manuals, or spiral bound books
Notebooks

We do accept these types of materials on occasion if exceptional circumstances warrant. Please contact Sarah Amick or Antonia FD Vassar if you think you have valuable or important materials that normally are not accepted by the VCU Libraries.

Please note that staff and volunteers will not remove inscriptions, names, or other identifying material from donated books. Please check through your books before donating them.

What donated books might be appropriate for the collections?

If your books or materials meet any of the below guidelines, please let us know, and library staff will review them for possible inclusion in the collections. The review does not guarantee that they will be added to the collections, only that they will not be immediately placed with materials for the Book Sale.

Books specific to Richmond or Virginia history
A large collection of a particular topic or author
VCU faculty author publications
Richmond-specific sound recordings
Material for Special Collections and Archives (including book art and comic arts)
University press titles and society press titles
Health Sciences journals and books (excluding textbooks)

Out staff evaluates these kinds of materials for relevance to subject areas important for VCU, material type, physical condition of the gift, and usefulness to the collections. Most added donations will be cataloged and shelved in the same manner as the rest of our collection. Occasionally, staff will identify materials that are appropriate for special protection in Special Collections and Archives.

Why are we selective about free materials?

Donated materials aren’t actually free for us! Even though we have volunteers to assist us, there are many costs associated with accepting books and materials donations, from staff time to evaluate and process materials, to allocating space for storage of donated items. A cash gift from you will help defray these costs and further the benefit of your donation for students and faculty throughout VCU. For more information on how to make a tax deductible gift, visit www.library.vcu.edu/giving/makeagift.html.

Okay. I’ve read all of the information above, and I’d like to donate books to the VCU Libraries.

A completed book donation form is required for all donations. Please complete and sign the form prior to delivering your books to the VCU Libraries. The VCU Libraries Development Office will mail you a thank you letter following the receipt of your donation for your records. Please indicate on the donation form if the donation includes items that may be appropriate for the collection. Make a copy of this form for your personal records.

You may drop-off your donations at the Administrative Office in James Branch Cabell Library, or the Service Desk at Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

All donations should be packed in sturdy bags with handles or in boxes no larger than 18" long x 12" wide x 10" high. Please do not over-pack your bags or boxes.

If special accommodations are needed, please contact Sarah Amick at (804) 828-4640 or Antonia FD Vassar at (804) 827-1165.