Management of gift materials in an academic library

Abstract

Purpose -This paper proposes to provide information on how to handle gifts in academic libraries. Design/methodology/approach -The paper is based on the author's research and practices developed at the Thomas Cooper Library at the University of South Carolina. Findings -The author has suggested ways to handle materials being added to the library's collection in order to make them accessible to the users even if they are not as yet cataloged. Practical implications -A new method is shown that allows keyword accessibility to MARC records in the local online catalog for donors' names, storage identification, and other details of importance, making the procedure simpler to use. It also allows for the rapid retrieval of materials. Originality/value -This paper provides useful guidelines for handling gifts to a library so that they can easily be retrieved and so that the donor can see how the library is handling the donation.

Gifts in Croatian public and academic libraries

“…Planned gifts can maximize the funding that libraries receive. Massey (2005) provided useful guidelines for handling gifts to an academic library so that they can easily be retrieved and the donor can see how the library is handling the donation. Bishop et al (2010) wrote about refocusing a gift program in Colorado State University Libraries.…”

Veterinary Medical Libraries in the 21st Century

“…A recent article from the library journal Collection Building provides sound basic information on handling gifts in academic libraries. The article reminds us that no gift is free; the price of a "free" gift may add up to about $45 per item, including library labor and processing costs (42). Most veterinary librarians would probably agree that this price would be a bargain in today's market, for a slightly used text or a like-new review copy donated by a faculty member, that may list at $100, $150 or more; for that missing volume of an otherwise complete journal run; or for some relatively rare and obscure item whose existence was not even known by the librarian prior to its receipt from the donor.…”

Refocusing a gift program in an academic library

“…Only gifts that are critically reviewed should be considered for addition to the collection" (p. 54). Significantly, too, Massey (2005) notes that "Attendees [at a recent Charleston conference] recognized that current analyses have estimated the price of a 'free' gift to be in the neighborhood of 45 dollars per item" (p. 82).…”