Processing Costs

Before accepting a gift collection, the library will consider the value the gift materials will add to the UO Libraries' collection goals, the donor's concerns, and the nature of processing required for adding a gift collection. Though gift materials may be “free” to acquire, their acceptance commits the library to a host of processing tasks. These include selection of appropriate titles, checking for duplication, creating cataloging records or other finding aids, physical processing and possibly repair as well as the storage and shelving of materials. Processing costs will vary considerably depending upon a variety of factors: the size, condition, language(s) and formats of a gift collection. These factors will also dictate the amount of time and labor the UO Libraries need to completely process materials and make them available to the public. We typically process gift materials in order of their receipt or according to priorities we have established based on our primary users' needs for access. Generally, the library also does not keep gift collections together once they have been processed. If a gift collection adds significant value to our holdings and requires significant processing costs, it is best to consult with appropriate library staff to explore the options for handling the gift.

Maintained by: Acquisitions Staff
Last Modified: 02/18/2010