Library donations policy

Please note that potential donations to Special Collections and Archives are not affected by this policy. Should you wish to donate items to Special Collections, please contact specialcollections@cardiff.ac.uk

Thank you for considering donating. The Library does not actively seek donations of printed material. We can only accept material which directly supports current teaching and research at the University, and which is in line with our collection development priorities.

Any accepted donations will become the property of Cardiff University. The Library Service retains the right to make available, locate, use, retain or dispose of items according to its own judgement.

What we can't accept

In general, we don’t accept:

• duplicates
• physical editions of items we hold electronically
• back runs of print journals
• textbooks which are out of date
• material in obsolete or inaccessible formats
• items which are not in excellent condition

Why is our donations policy so strict?

Space – we have over a million physical items in stock and with the increased demand for more study spaces, we can only justify accepting and making space for donations if they contribute directly to current teaching and research.

Cost – There are many hidden costs to processing and storing donations. Not all costs are monetary, but dealing with donations can divert staff time and storage away from other priorities.

What if we can't accept your books?

Several charities and social enterprises positively welcome books for sale or redistribution, and we encourage you to make a difference by considering sending your books to them.