Management of gift materials in an academic library

Abstract

Purpose

This paper proposes to provide information on how to handle gifts in academic libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on the author's research and practices developed at the Thomas Cooper Library at the University of South Carolina.

Findings

The author has suggested ways to handle materials being added to the library's collection in order to make them accessible to the users even if they are not as yet cataloged.

Practical implications

A new method is shown that allows keyword accessibility to MARC records in the local online catalog for donors' names, storage identification, and other details of importance, making the procedure simpler to use. It also allows for the rapid retrieval of materials.

Originality/value

This paper provides useful guidelines for handling gifts to a library so that they can easily be retrieved and so that the donor can see how the library is handling the donation.

Citation

Massey, T. (2005), "Management of gift materials in an academic library", Collection Building, Vol. 24 No. 3, pp. 80-82. https://doi.org/10.1108/01604950510608230