The Housatonic Community College library welcomes donations of books and other materials that enrich the library’s collection. Each donated item is reviewed by trained staff for addition to the collection. The decision to add materials is based on the criteria listed below. All decisions made by the library staff are final. The donor will be responsible for delivering donated material to the library and filling out and signing a donations form provided by the library.

Criteria for addition of materials

Many of the same standards of selection that are applicable to the purchase of materials will be applied to donations. Primary criterion for acceptance is the material’s relevance to HCC’s academic programs and to the library’s collection. Other criteria include physical condition and date/accuracy of material. Materials may not be accepted for reasons of conditions, relevancy, and format.

The library cannot function as an archive for personal papers, artists’ works, or materials that require special housing. The library does not have a special facility for rare books and manuscripts. The library has the right to reject donations when necessary or appropriate.

Disposition of unneeded materials

Upon receipt, all donated materials become the property of the HCC library. The library reserves the right to determine retention, location, cataloging treatment, and other considerations relating to the use and disposition of donations.

Materials not selected for addition to the collection may be sold, donated, recycled, discarded, or otherwise disposed of. Proceeds from the sale of materials are used at the discretion of the library. The library does not notify donors of each title’s disposition.

Acknowledgement/receipt

Some donors require a receipt for tax purposes. The library provides an acknowledgement letter which functions as a receipt of goods, but does not include an appraisal of fair market value. A record of acknowledgements will be kept on file at the library for a period of 2 years. The library will not place a value on donations for tax purposes or provide an itemized list of donated items.