Donating Books
What We Collect
Rauner Special Collections Library collects books that support teaching and research across the curriculum.
We have particular strengths in American and English Literature, the history of printing and the book arts, Polar exploration, the literature of the White Mountains, and nineteenth-century illustrated books. But, because we serve a diverse liberal arts curriculum, we collect books in nearly all subject areas.
If you have materials that you are interested in donating, but are unsure if they fit our areas of collecting, please contact us to discuss your specific donation. If you would like to know more about books in your collection, you may want to consult the Your Old Books, a guide assembled by the Rare Book and Manuscript Division of the American Library Association.
Why Donate?
The holdings of Rauner Special Collections Library are primary resources for teaching and research across the Dartmouth curriculum. Dartmouth students use the collections to write papers on a broad array of subjects. These resources provide students with an opportunity to work with primary source materials. Faculty use the materials both for their own research and as examples and teaching tools in the classroom. In addition, these collections are consulted by researchers from the United States and around the world.
With the donation of each new item, we are able to the increase the breadth and depth of our resources to better serve the educational needs of the College and of scholars who depend on our collections.
How Do I Make A Donation?
The first step in making a book donation is to contact Jay Satterfield, Special Collections Librarian (603) 646-3712. He will help you to determine if Rauner Special Collections Library is the best place for you donation.
Monetary Appraisal for Tax Deductions
Donors may take a tax deduction for book donations. Donors wishing to have more information on this matter should speak with either a tax consultant or an attorney. If you intend to claim a deduction of over $5,000, it is our understanding that the Internal Revenue Services requires a formal appraisal from a qualified appraiser. College policy prohibits Special Collections from providing monetary valuations of collections or individual items, and from hiring an appraiser for you. You can search the Association of American Antiquarian Book Sellers database to find an appraiser in your area. If you are unable to locate an appraiser repeat the search without specifying specialization and try contacting any listed book seller. If they do not perform appraisals they are likely to know someone who does.
Care for Collections
Special Collections is managed by professional archivists and librarians whose first priority is preservation of and access to historic materials. Special Collections staff arrange, describe and catalog collections to ensure ease of access by researchers. We strongly encourage use of the collections, but rare books do not circulate outside of Special Collections.
Should a collection require repair or other conservation work, Special Collections will consult with Dartmouth Library's Preservation Services to determine proper handling and treatment. All materials are stored in climate-controlled areas.