Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU) welcomes and encourages the donation of books and other library materials from individuals and organizations that support the University's mission and values. This policy outlines the guidelines and procedures for accepting gifts of books for the University’s H. C. Hofheimer II Library collection.
Guidelines for Acceptance:
- Relevance: Donated books should align with the academic programs and research needs of VWU. Materials that enhance the curriculum, support faculty research, or contribute to the intellectual and cultural enrichment of the university community will be prioritized.
- Condition: Donated books should be in good physical condition and free from significant damage such as water damage, mold, excessive annotations, or heavy wear.
- Currency: Preference will be given to recent publications that reflect current scholarship and knowledge in their respective fields.
- Language: Donated books should be in English or, if in another language, should have significant academic or cultural value to warrant inclusion in the collection.
- Format: The library primarily accepts printed books, but donations of rare or valuable electronic resources will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Exclusions: The library will generally not accept the following materials: outdated textbooks, magazines, journals, newspapers, materials in poor condition, or materials that do not align with the University's mission.
Donation Process:
- Initial Inquiry: Prospective donors should contact the Hofheimer Library at Virginia Wesleyan University to express their interest in donating books. The library staff will evaluate the proposed donation based on the aforementioned guidelines.
- Evaluation: Library staff will review the list of donated books or materials to assess their relevance to the collection. A decision will be made within a reasonable timeframe.
- Appraisal: Donors may be required to provide an estimate of the value of the donated materials for tax purposes. The library staff is not authorized to provide appraisals.
- Transfer of Ownership: Once accepted, the donated materials will become the property of VWU. The library reserves the right to determine the appropriate location and use of the materials.
- Acknowledgment: The library will provide donors with a letter of acknowledgment that includes a description of the donated materials, though it will not assign a monetary value.
- Disposal: Materials not added to the collection may be offered to other libraries, sold, donated, or discarded, at the discretion of the library staff.
Recognition:
- Bookplates: Donated books may be marked with a bookplate indicating the donor's name, unless the donor prefers to remain anonymous.
- Special Collections: Donors may have the option to contributing materials to the University Archive, subject to further discussion and agreement with the University Archivist or Head Librarian .
Contact: For inquiries regarding the donation of books or other materials to Virginia Wesleyan University's H. C. Hofheimer II Library, please contact Head Librarian Stephen Leist at sleist@vwu.edu.
Revised September 2024
