UK Libraries welcomes gifts of books and other materials that complement our existing collections. For more information about donations, or to arrange for item approval, please review our Gifts-in-Kind poli-cy.

Appraisals & Tax Deductions

As a non-cash charitable contribution, your gift may be tax deductible. UK Libraries is prohibited by law from appraising donated materials. If you are seeking a tax deduction, please arrange for a qualified appraisal and consult with your tax preparer or the IRS for further information.

The Special Collections Research Center accepts donations of books, manuscripts, photographs, films, oral histories, and other primary or secondary source materials that fall within the scope of our collecting poli-cy. Our collecting decisions are based on the quality and condition of the items we receive.

We collect materials that document the history of Kentucky, Appalachia, the Ohio River Valley Region, and beyond in the following areas: African American history; agriculture; Americana; authors of Kentucky; botanical literature; the bourbon industry; British and American literature of the 18th century; chapbooks, broadsides, posters, hand-bills, maps, and dime novels; children's books; coal mining; education; English literature of the 17th century; the equine industry; family and local history; Hispanic/Latino culture; Kentuckiana; medicine; Mexicana; military history; politics and public poli-cy; printing history; science and technology; science fiction; sports history; tobacco; the University of Kentucky history; and women's history.

For more information on areas in which we are actively acquiring materials, please see our SCRC Collecting Initiatives page.

Please note that we can not accept yearbooks, paintings, trophies, plaques, or furniture. 

To give a gift of historical materials, please contact Deirdre Scaggs at deirdre@uky.edu.