Gift policy and guidelines

Gifts of money

Financial support is always welcome. Please refer to Library Advancement: Support the SFU Library for further information on monetary gifts.

Gifts-in-kind policy

The SFU Library is committed to enhancing its special collections in a manner which supports the teaching, learning and research needs of the University. Donations of rare or unique materials suitable for the Library's Special Collections and Rare Books Division form an important addition to the Library’s collections and contribute greatly to its richness and individuality. The Library welcomes inquiries from prospective donors wishing to donate materials that meet the following criteria.

Materials may include:

  • Rare and unique items including manuscripts, photographs, moving images, sound recordings
  • Rare books (and other less rare books supporting the collecting areas listed below)
  • Personal and organizational archives or collections

Areas of special interest:

  • Collections with British Columbia emphasis in the areas of:
    • history
    • politics (CCF, NDP, Social Credit)
    • labour
    • activism (LGBTQ2IA+, environment)
    • Indigenous authors
    • immigration (Doukhobor, Indo-Canadian)
    • arts and culture
    • book arts and fine press
    • publishing 
  • 20th and 21st century modern, post-modern and avant-garde writing (Contemporary Literature Collection)
  • William Wordsworth and the Lake District
  • Works by and about William Morris
  • Editorial cartoons 
  • Books or printed ephemera with significant research potential that complement extant collection strengths

If you have books which you want to donate and which do not meet the criteria above, you may want to consider checking the organizations below for their current book acceptance policies:

Acceptance guidelines and donation procedures

Acceptance guidelines

Gifts of materials for the Special Collections and Rare Books Division are considered by the Head of Special Collections in consultation with appropriate Librarians or Faculty members as needed.  The Library reserves the right to accept or decline prospective donations.  Among the criteria used to determine acceptability are:

  • whether the prospective donations fall within the scope of the Library’s collections
  • whether the prospective donations support the current or emerging teaching, learning and research needs of the University
  • their physical condition
  • the processing and maintenance costs
  • restrictions, if any, which prospective donors wish to place on the disposition and use of the material offered

Donation procedures

  • A description of the material being offered for consideration is required.  For example a list of rare books, moving images, etc., or, a descriptive narrative of an archival collection. Only the material wanted for the collection will be accepted.
  • In some instances, a visit will be made to view the collection.
  • If the material is accepted for consideration, arrangements will be made with the donor to physically transfer the material to the library.
  • Upon receipt of the material, a deposit form will be completed.
  • Terms and conditions of the donation will be negotiated and formalized in a Collection Terms and Conditions agreement. Monetary donations to help defray the costs associated with processing and preserving donated materials are gratefully accepted.
  • All donations become the sole and exclusive property of the Library.  As owner, the Library has the right to determine: how any gift is to be used, where it is to be located, if it is catalogued, whether it will be retained by the Library and how it will be treated if not retained, how long it will be kept in the collection, and any other matter related to the gift's use or disposition.

Tax receipts and donor recognition

Tax receipts

Many donations to the Libraries are considered charitable donations and may be eligible for tax receipts subject to Canada Revenue Agency guidelines (CRA gifting and receipting).  If a tax receipt is requested, the details (such as eligibility, appraisal, and additional documentation) will be discussed at the time of donation.

Donor recognition

The Library is pleased to consider requests for names to be added to electronic catalogue records and/or for bookplates to be inserted in donated books.  These may bear the donor’s name and/or the names of those in whose honour or memory the gift is made.

Donors of archival materials may consent to be recognized in various ways.  For example, in the naming of the collection, in the finding aid, in exhibits, in promotional material, or in the description of a digitized collection.

Contact information

Melissa Salrin
Head, Special Collections and Rare Books
msalrin@sfu.ca
778.782.4626