Gifts of Books and Other Materials
We generally do not accept unsolicited gifts of books or other material for our collections. Our buildings have serious space constraints and there are significant costs associated with sorting, reviewing, and processing donated material.
If you think your potential gift will uniquely complement or strengthen our existing collections, we invite you to tell us about it using this form.
Gifts are considered by the appropriate curator or subject specialist. We are not able to accept in-kind gifts unless, and until, arrangements have been made with a curator or subject specialist.
Other options for donating
In addition to your local public library, these organizations may appreciate your donation of books:
- Friends of the Ann Arbor District Library (book shop)
- American Association of University Women (Ann Arbor Branch) (annual used book sale)
- First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor Prison Books Program (volunteer-run program that collects and distributes donated books to Michigan prisons)
- Give My Books (Ann Arbor based for-profit seller of used books and media; local pickup service available)
Accepted donations
If we accept your gift, it is with the understanding that it becomes the property of the university, and the library will make all decisions regarding its retention, location, cataloging, use, and disposition. Materials accepted but not added to the collections will be sold, donated, or otherwise disposed of.
Accepted gifts will be acknowledged with a receipt provided by the Regents of the University of Michigan.