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Bridwell|Art Library

Donations: Home

Information on how to donate materials to the Art Library.

Donation Policies

This page has information on how to donate materials to the Bridwell Art Library. 

  • The Art Library gratefully accepts donations of money, books, or related library materials. However, it reserves the right to decline, exchange, or otherwise dispose of donated materials.
  • The Art Library is not able to appraise a collection for valuation or tax purposes.
  • The Art Library is not able to assess a donation from a list or photos. Items must be reviewed in person to evaluate their edition and condition.
  • The Art Library cannot accept conditional or restrictive donations that limit access to patrons or require private housing/handling.

What to Donate

The Art Library gratefully accepts the following materials:

  • Scholarly art monographs or exhibition catalogs
  • Rare books or special collections materials such as artists’ books
  • Items in good physical condition, e.g. do not contain mold or mildew, tears, stains, water damage, tobacco smoke, etc.

Other gifts may be accepted at the discretion of the Art Library Director. 

What Not to Donate

The Art Library is unable to accept the following materials:

  • Textbooks
  • Duplicates of current holdings, unless they are in superior condition
  • Single issues of periodicals (journals, magazines)
  • Outdated media such as cassettes, videotapes, CD-ROMs, etc.
  • Books beyond the scope of an academic art library
  • Items in poor physical condition, e.g. contain mold or mildew, tears, stains, water damage, tobacco smoke, etc.

How to Donate

How to donate materials to the Art Library:

  • Donations must be made in person. Per University Libraries policy, staff are not able to make external visits to pick up materials.
  • Call 502-852-6741 to schedule a time to bring materials to the Art Library or drop them off at the Ekstrom Library loading dock. 
  • Sign the Deed of Gift form to transfer ownership of the materials to the Art Library. 

Donation Process

Once a donation is received by the Art Library:

  • The librarian will evaluate the donations for condition, edition, and relevancy. Books that are not selected for the collection will be sent to a book donation service. Note: Processing donations takes a significant amount of time and research, so the librarian is not able to evaluate materials on the spot.
  • The Deed of Gift form will be signed by the art librarian and stored in the library’s donor records.