Giving to Special Collections
We welcome the opportunity to discuss the variety of contributions that can be made to Library Special Collections. Gift materials have included manuscript collections and personal papers, book collections, photographs, postcards, posters, works of art, and other items. Donors have provided funds to support continued purchases in specific collecting areas as well as funds for processing and cataloging collections. Vital support has also come from groups and organizations such as the Ahmanson Foundation, Annenburg Foundation, Arcadia Fund, Cotsen Foundation, and Haynes Foundation.
Making a Gift of Funds
The department's excellence is a direct result of generous benefactions.
To discuss giving opportunities, please contact:
Sharon Farb Associate Librarian for Special Collections and International Collaborations.
You can also make a gift online by choosing Special Collections Fund in the drop-down menu. To charge a gift to a credit card by telephone, please call 310.206.8526.
See, also Ways to Give to the UCLA Library.
Making a Gift of Materials
UCLA Library Special Collections accepts gifts of books, manuscripts, and other materials that enrich its existing collections and support the instructional and research programs of the university. Donations will be reviewed by subject specialists in the appropriate field for possible addition to the collections. Gifts accepted are subject to the policies of the Regents of the University of California with the understanding that the university becomes the owner of the material upon its receipt and reserves the right to determine retention, location, cataloging treatment, and other considerations relating to use or disposition. Gifts of manuscripts may involve additional considerations to be discussed between the university and the donor.
The Library may decline to accept certain gifts, including those which are not within the scope of its collections or that do not support the instructional and research programs of the university. Other gifts may not be accepted if they duplicate existing material in the Library's collections or if their condition would require extensive preservation or preparation before they could be added to the collection.
If an appraisal is required for income tax purposes, arrangements for and costs associated with the appraisal are the sole responsibility of the donor. As a matter of policy, the Library, as an interested party, does not appraise gifts intended for it. Donors are encouraged to discuss their donations and appraisals with their attorneys or tax advisors.
Before making a decision to offer your books to Library Special Collections, please consult the informative guide Your Old Books which answers some frequently asked questions about rare and older books, their value, and what issues to consider when donating books. See in particular Sections 21 and 22.
Please review What We Collect for the areas in which we are soliciting materials.
Contributing Materials to University Archives
The University Archives accepts materials from UCLA administrative offices and departments, academic departments and programs, and related organizations as well as from faculty, alumni, and the general public.
For UCLA Administrative Offices and Departments, Academic Departments and Programs, and Related Organizations
The transfer of non-current files to the University Archives is coordinated with UCLA Records Management & Information Practices department. Information about University of California records retention schedules is available on the UCLA Retention and Disposition Schedules and Policies Web site.
- What is a non-current file?
- A file that has not been used in the past year or will not be used more than once per year.
- How can non-current files that can be transferred to the University Archives be identified?
- UCLA Records and Resource Management will provide advice; the office telephone number (310) 794-2600.
- Can duplicates/extra copies of items within files be removed?
- Yes.
- Should confidential or restricted files be shredded before transfer?
- It depends. UCLA Records and Resource Management will provide more information; the office phone number (310) 794-2600.
- How often can non-current files be transferred to the University Archives?
- There should be at least two linear feet (about two storage boxes) of non-current files before the files are transferred. University Archives will provide boxes.
- Should a list of the files in each box be included?
- Yes. Emailing the list to the University Archives will also be helpful
- What is the contact number when files are ready for transfer?
- Call the University Archives office (310) 206-0568.
For UCLA Faculty and Alumni and for the Public
In addition to departmental files, the University Archives also acquires materials from UCLA faculty and alumni as well as from the public. For further information on contributing materials, email spec-coll@library.ucla.edu.
