Marathon County Public Library

ITEM NUMBER: 4.33

CHAPTER 4: Library

Statements

CODE: Policy

COMPUTER ID: LS-ST-4



Title: Statement on Appraisal of Gifts.

Effective Date: 11-24-86

Authorized By: Library Board of Trustees

Date of Last Review: 3-2013



1. The appraisal of a gift to a library for tax purposes generally is the

responsibility of the donor since it is the donor who benefits from the tax

deduction. Generally, the cost of the appraisal should be borne by the donor.



2. The library should at all times protect the interests of its donors as best it can

and should suggest the desirability of appraisals whenever such a suggestion

would be in order.



3. To protect both its donors and itself, the library as an interested party,

ordinarily should not appraise gifts made to it. It is recognized, however, that

on occasion the library may wish to appraise small gifts, since many of them

are not worth the time and expense an outside appraisal requires. Generally,

however, the library will limit its assistance to the donor to:



a. providing him with information such as auction records and dealers'

catalogs;

b. suggestions of appropriate professional appraisers who might be

consulted;

c. administrative and processing services which would assist the

appraiser in making an accurate evaluation.



4. The acceptance of a gift which has been appraised by a third, and

disinterested party, does not in any way imply an endorsement of the

appraisal by the library.



5. An archivist, curator, or librarian, if he is conscious that as an expert he may

have to prove his competence in court, may properly act as an independent

appraiser of library materials. He should not in any way suggest that his

appraisal is endorsed by his library (such as by the use of the library's

letterhead), nor should he ordinarily act in this fashion (except when handling

small gifts) if his institution is to receive the donation.



Developed by the Committee on Manuscripts of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section.

Approved by the ACRL Board of Directors on February 1, 1973, in Washington, D.C.



This statement replaces the 1960 policy on appraisal

(Antiquarian Bookman, v.26, December 19, 1960, p.2205).