Donations & Gifts
Giving Financial Gifts
Monetary gifts or the establishment of endowed funds can be used to enrich the library collections, services, and spaces for years to come. If you are interested in donating funds to McCain Library, please contact Elizabeth Bagley at 404-471-5277. Liz will be glad to discuss potential opportunities to make a difference and to refer you to the appropriate contact in the Advancement division.
To make a one-time gift online, please visit the link below, select "Other" and type in “Library Acquisitions Gift Fund” on the online form.
Unrestricted gift funds help McCain Library thrive and directly support emerging curricular materials and student programming. Approximately 87 percent of funds for purchasing research material comes from philanthropic and alumnae support.
Gifts may be specified in honor or in memory of a particular person, or to name a space in McCain Library. Monetary gifts sent directly to the library will be forwarded to the college’s development office to ensure proper credit for the donor.
Book & Archival Donations
In general, McCain Library does not accept donated books. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Head of Discovery & Access or the Archivist.
Why Not?
Although we appreciate the spirit of generosity, in most cases the labor involved in reviewing and processing gifts outweighs the value of the offering (with certain exceptions, such as textbooks recently taught at Agnes Scott). Often, after searching the gift titles, we discover that we already own many of them, or that they are readily available through regional networks. The titles we do not own must be reviewed by subject liaisons and evaluated for merit on a title-by-title basis, based on a number of criteria, including cataloging and processing costs, space limitations, and current curricular support.
While the library does have a small bestseller collection, we are primarily an academic library, supporting current curricula at the college. The collection reflects this fact.
Please check resellers such as charities (e.g., AAUW, Better World Books) or local public libraries to see if donations would be best utilized at these locations.
Exceptions
Faculty and Alumnae publications, and unique, one-of-a kind items relevant to Agnes Scott College may be of interest. We also are currently seeking additions to these collections: Graphic Novels (including Manga). Our holdings can be checked here.
Who Should I Contact about a Possible Donation?
To ensure the material will be best used if placed in the collection, Christopher Bishop, Head of Access & Discovery, can be contacted about book donations at 404-471-6337.
For archival or special items relevant to the college, please contact McCain Library's Archivist, Casey Westerman, at 404-471-6344. Please do not drop off donations without talking with either Chris or Casey in advance.
Considerations: The library does not accept books that are:
- Worn or dirty (including yellowing and staining)
- Already owned within the collection
- Marred by highlighting or other markings
- Incomplete series
- Older editions or that convey outdated information
- CDs, DVDs, Magazines, or VHS Videotapes
- Donations that are more than the donor can bring or ship to McCain Library will not be accepted.
- Typically, books that are more than 5 years old will not be accepted.
- Conditional donations, such as special requests on display location and circulation placement, will also not be accepted.
- When accepted, all donations become property of the library and may be used as the library sees fit.
There are exceptions to these criteria, such as:
- Materials specifically related to Agnes Scott College and its history.
- Please contact Archives & Special Collections.
- Materials underrepresented in the collection
- Please check the library's collections and seriously evaluate the material academically if you believe the donation fits this category.
While donations are tax-deductible, by law the library cannot assign monetary value to donations. Donors can request a gift receipt for tax purposes at the Check Out Desk and fill out a form regarding the specifics of their donations (linked below). Memorial bookplates may also be requested.
Policy Updated: February 2026
Download a printable gift form