Gifts of Materials
Gifts can play an important role in the development of active library collections suited to meet the needs of library users. The Clark Library welcomes gifts of books, as well as financial support to help add depth and diversity to the library's collection. The Clark Library also accepts gifts for its Special Collections in the following formats: rare books, manuscripts, pamphlets, and broadsides.
The Clark Library accepts gift donations provided they meet collection parameters*, matching areas of research and instruction at the University.
Particularly useful are hard cover books and high-quality paperbacks or scores with scientific, scholarly, literary, or artistic merit that support the University's curriculum. A more detailed list of material types that are / are not collected by the Library is included below.
- Books (particularly hard cover books and high-quality paperbacks)
- Rare books
- Incuncabula (early books printed prior to 1501)
- Music scores
- Manuscripts (including holographs created prior to the wide adoption of the printing press, literary manuscripts, and personal papers)
- Pamphlets
- Broadsides
- Outdated textbooks
- Popular magazines
- Mass-market publications
- Materials in poor condition
- Superseded formats, such as LPs, DVDs, Blu-rays, audio CDs, and VHS tapes
- Bibles
- Duplicates of existing holdings (including duplicates in other formats, such as a print copy of an eBook available from the Library)
- Older/outdated editions of works
- Widely available publications
- Reprints or photocopies of original materials
- Newspaper clippings
- Commemorative newspapers
- Student coursework
- Fine and decorative arts
- Modern encyclopedias and textbooks
- Single volumes of sets or incomplete sets
- Yearbooks (from University of Portland or other schools, colleges, or universities)
For potential gifts related to the University of Portland's history, culture, realia, or relationship to the Congregation of Holy Cross, please consult the University of Portland's Archives & Artifacts.
Acceptance of Gifts
Gifts of materials are considered as outright and unrestricted donations and accepted with the understanding that they are to be used in the best interest of the Clark Library. Upon receipt they become the property of the Library. The Library holds the right to determine retention, location, circulation and disposition of the gift. Generally the Library adds items that would be unique to the collection and provide added value. The Library retains the right to dispose of gifts not added to its collection. Two common practices are exchange with or gift to other libraries or friends groups. We cannot return gifts to donors.
Gifts are accepted with prior arrangement with the Head of Collection Services or designee, usually the subject liaison. The Clark Library will acknowledge gifts unless otherwise indicated by the donor. Generally we cannot provide a detailed list of donations and cannot provide an acknowledgement at a later date for tax purposes.
Gifts and taxes
Books and other materials given to the Clark Library can be claimed as an income tax deduction at fair market value. An appraisal for tax purposes is the responsibility of the donor. As an interested party, the Library cannot appraise gifts. The IRS has specific guidelines and requirements for in-kind donations. More information about IRS requirements can be found in Publication 561: Determining the Value of Donated Property or through consulting an attorney or other tax expert.
For more information
To make arrangements for a donation of materials, please contact Christina Prucha at 503.943.7419 or prucha@up.edu. For information on making a monetary contribution please contact the University's development office at 503.943.7395.
Thank you for thinking of the University and Clark Library.
*Collection parameters are available upon request to anyone who is not currently affiliated with the University of Portland.