Giving to the Beinecke Library

The rich and diverse collections of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and indeed the building that holds them, bring to fruition the thought and effort of generations of loyal alumni, scholars, and friends of the University. The Beinecke’s future will likewise be animated by the generosity of individuals who share our commitment to preserving and providing access to an inspiring record of human experience and cultural achievement.

Donations of collections or single items that directly support or complement the Beinecke Library’s collections should be brought to the attention of the appropriate curator. If you are uncertain which curator is most appropriate, contact Cheryl Beredo, Director for Collections.

To discuss financial support for the Beinecke Library or to learn more about the Library’s current areas of need, please contact Basie Bales Gitlin, Director of Development for Yale University Library.

The Beinecke’s collections are at once immense and focused. Consequently, materials offered as gifts to the Library might duplicate materials already in our collections or extend beyond the scope of our collecting areas. The Library is, therefore, unable to accept all materials offered as gifts to the collection; where possible, Library staff may refer donors to other libraries. Gifts received without prior curatorial consultation may be returned or discarded without acknowledgment.

NOTE: the Beinecke Library is not currently accepting unsolicited gifts; PLEASE DO NOT send books, manuscripts or other materials to the Library without consulting the appropriate curator or Cheryl Beredo, Director of Collections: cheryl.beredo@yale.edu.

Information for Donors

Gifts to Yale University for the benefit of the Beinecke Library are tax deductible as allowed by law. Tax law changes frequently; donors are encouraged to seek guidance from a professional accountant or other tax adviser on all matters concerning tax deductions and charitable giving.

For tax purposes, the effective date of a gift is the date on which it is physically received by the Library and title is transferred (in some cases, title transfer may be governed by a Deed of Gift signed by the donor and the Library). Donors making gifts at the end of the calendar year should ensure that the items are conveyed in time to be received at the Beinecke before the end of December, taking into account special hours for holidays and winter break.

Upon receipt of a gift of materials for our collections, the Library will issue a formal Letter of Acknowledgement to the donor, signed by the Beinecke Library Director. This letter serves as an official document recording the nature of a gift and the date it was received at the Library; donors are encouraged to retain Letters of Acknowledgment to document donations for tax purposes.

Under current United States tax law, donors who wish to receive a tax deduction for gifts with a value over $500 but less than $5,000 must file a completed IRS Form 8283; the completed form must be submitted to the Beinecke Library by mail (see addresses below). Yale representatives will sign to verify receipt of the gift in question before returning the form to the donor. University staff cannot complete forms or sign forms that have not been properly completed. Donors should anticipate receiving 8283 forms signed by appropriate Yale representatives approximately 2-4 weeks after the forms have been delivered to the Beinecke Library. During tax season, when Yale receives a great number of forms, turnaround times may be longer.

For gifts with a value exceeding $5,000 a donor must secure a formal appraisal to accompany an IRS Form 8283. A copy of the appraisal should also be submitted to the Beinecke along with a completed 8283 tax form. The IRS Form 8283 and instructions for completing it can be found online here: https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8283.

In accordance with the Internal Revenue Code, Beinecke Library, as an interested party, may not provide a statement of market value to any donor. In accepting an appraisal, the Library takes no position as to whether it is a “qualified appraisal” under IRS regulations. The cost of an appraisal is the responsibility of the donor and itself may be tax-deductible.

As a matter of policy, Beinecke staff cannot recommend individual appraisers. Donors are encouraged to consult local directories, or websites through which appraisers may be found, such as those of the Southern New England Antiquarian Booksellers, the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America, and the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association.

Shipping Information

All mail and packages containing gifts to the Beinecke Library or IRS Form 8283 must be addressed to the appropriate curator unless otherwise instructed. Please use the postal address or shipping address below as appropriate.

POSTAL ADDRESS (USPS):

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University
P. O. Box 208330
New Haven, CT 06520-8330
U.S.A.

SHIPPING/COURIER/FREIGHT ADDRESS (FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc.):

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University
344 Winchester Avenue
Dock 8
New Haven, CT 06511
U.S.A

If you have questions about how best to prepare your gift for shipping, please consult our Packing Guidelines for Collection Material.

Donations and Collection Access

The Beinecke Library is a research institution with a commitment to making collections freely available to students and scholars working in our reading room or consulting our collections online from a distance; the Library provides broad access to its collections for teaching, learning, and research. Beinecke Library’s Reading Room Policies can be found online: see Reading Room Policies. To support and facilitate research, the Beinecke Library makes reading copies of materials in our collections for scholars’ personal use; information about duplication requests can be found online: see Ordering Reproductions. We maintain a Digital Library, an online database containing images of materials in our collections; reproductions requested by scholars are added regularly. Our website includes information about scholarly use of copyrighted materials in our collections: see Permissions & Copyright.