Donors & Libraries

Current faculty: Susan M. Allen & William P. Barlow, Jr

Description: Particularly aimed at early career rare book and special collections librarians who would like to increase their level of knowledge about and activity with donors. Also open to donors and prospective donors and booksellers who would like to know more about how libraries and institutional personnel deal with gifts-in-kind and prospective gifts. Topics covered include: Needs and opportunities as illustrated by the American tradition of gifts to libraries, the privileges and responsibilities of donors and libraries, and dealing with bureaucracies. The institutional framework and how its realities such as changing priorities and staff changes impact seeking gifts. Building working library-donor relations, negotiating gifts, fulfilling obligations, and doing donor/donee research. Understanding tax and legal matters and how they may be incentives for giving, including deeds of gift, gift/purchase arrangements, gift vs. deposit, appraisals, and institutional record keeping. There will be an opportunity to practice negotiating through role-playing.

Requirements: In their personal statement prospective applicants should describe the extent of their formal and/or informal background or training in the field.

Years taught: 2008 (UCLA), 2011 (San Francisco), 2012 (San Francisco), 2014 (UCLA), 2018 (UCLA), 2021 (UCLA)