Physical Transfer of Material and Transfer of Ownership

If you and a member of the Library's collecting staff determine that the Library is the best place for your item(s) or collection, the Library will arrange for delivery of the material to the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library. RBMSCL staff members may pack and pick up the material, or request that you pack and send it by U.S. Mail, FedEx, or UPS. If possible, please include a brief inventory of the materials being sent, and notify us before making a shipment so that we may be prepared to receive it. Shipments should be made to the following addresses, as appropriate:

For U.S. Mail:

Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library
Duke University
P.O. Box 90185
Durham, NC 27708

For FedEx, UPS, or other Delivery Services:

Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library
William R. Perkins Library
Duke University
Research Drive
Durham, NC 27708

In many cases, a gift agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the donation will be drafted and sent to you for your approval and signature. A sample gift agreement, which can be customized to suit donors' needs, is available for viewing. Upon the receipt of material by the RBMSCL, we will send you a letter acknowledging your gift. The acknowledgement letter or the signed gift agreement is the instrument by which legal ownership is transferred from you to Duke University's Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library. Materials normally will not be accepted on deposit or on loan. For more on gift agreements in general, see the Society of American Archivists' brochure "A Guide to Deeds of Gift."