Rare Book School

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L-55. Donors and Libraries

Susan M. Allen and William P. Barlow, Jr

Particularly aimed at rare book and special collections librarians who deal on a regular basis with donors (or who would like to increase their level of activity in this area); also open to donors (and prospective donors) who would like to know more about how libraries and institutional personnel deal with gifts (and with prospective gifts). Topics include: needs and opportunities (the American tradition of gifts to libraries, privileges and responsibilities of donors and libraries, and dealing with bureaucracies); the institutional framework (institutional realities, dealing with changing priorities); library-donor relations (building working relationships, fulfilling obligations, coping with staff changes); tax and legal matters (tax incentives, deeds of gift, gift/purchase arrangements, gift vs. deposit, appraisals, institutional record-keeping).

The course is not intended to be a how-to-raise-money workshop; it is an extended examination of the philosophy of giving, and receiving, collections and other donations in a library context.

The 2009 November course will be held at the Grolier Club in New York City.

Course Resources

Course History

2004

Susan M. Allen and William P. Barlow, Jr. teach this course for the first time.