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Do we have every book about foxhunting, shooting,
fishing, horseracing, sporting art and horsemanship that we would
like to have in our collection? Not by a long shot!
But before packing boxes of books and magazines
in your car and driving it to the Library, PLEASE contact
the librarian, Lisa Campbell, at 540-687-6542, ext. 13 or lcampbell@nsl.org to see if the Library needs
your donation.
A helpful place to begin is the Library's online
catalog of books.
Almost all of the items in the National Sporting Library & Museum collection
are the result of gifts. Are you interested in donating books
to the NSL, but not quite sure of the process? The following information
may answer some of your questions.
Does the NSL accept donations of works of art?
Yes, the National Sporting Library & Museum does accept unrestricted gifts of works of art. For more information, please contact Hannah Reuter , hreuter@nsl.org, Curatorial Assistant, 540-687-6542 x 14.
Are book donations to the NSLM tax deductible?
Yes.
The NSLM is a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status,
and donors may be able claim the "fair market value"
of books as a charitable donation on income tax returns. Please
check with your accountant or tax adviser as to your particular
situation.
How is the "fair market value" determined?
IRS
rules prohibit the NSLM staff from determining the monetary valuation
of donations. However, we may be able to suggest booksellers
in your area who specialize in sporting books and provide book
appraisal services. The cost of the appraisal is the responsibility
of the donor. In some cases, it may outweigh the cost of the
deduction.
How will I substantiate my book donation to the IRS?
We
formally acknowledge all donations with a letter, including
a brief summary of the items donated. This letter documents
your donation for tax purposes.
What is a "deed of gift," and why do I have to sign
one?
When
you donate materials, we ask you to sign a deed of gift. This
document transfers ownership of the donated material from you
to the NSLM. Once the donation has been received the NSLM reserves
the right to sell gifts, or otherwise dispose of materials deemed
unsuitable for the collection.
What if I want to donate an entire collection, including books
that I am sure are already in the library's collection?
If
a large collection is donated, a donor should understand that
some of the items in the collection, including duplicates or
books out of the scope of the collection, may not be retained.
If
a book is a duplicate of a title that is already held, we compare
the two copies and keep the better copy in order to constantly
upgrade the condition of the collection. In many cases, such
as when books are signed by the author, have different bindings
or possess other unique characteristics, we keep both copies.
A
lesser copy is usually added to the selection for the NSLM's
annual duplicate book sale,
the library's main fundraiser held each fall. At times we also
share the wealth by passing important or hard-to-find materials
on to other horse- or sport-related institutions for their collections.
What kinds of materials does the NSLM accept?
Our
collection includes books, manuscripts, serials, papers, pamphlets,
videos, films and much more. However, we encourage you to discuss
your donation with us before your bring or send the materials
to the Library (especially runs of serials). In some cases,
we may recommend that you contact another institution that would
be a more suitable home for your materials or lacks material
already in our collection.
And what do I get in return for the donation of my
books?
You will know that your donation will be used and enjoyed by
researchers and book lovers for generations to come.
How can I find out more information about donations?
If
you have questions about donations, please contact the librarian
at (540) 687-6542, ext. 13. You can also contact the Internal
Revenue Service for publications
on charitable contributions (Publication 526) or determining
the value of donated property (Publication 561).
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