Give To The Library

Donations to the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library at Tulane University are a true "gift of knowledge." These gifts help us broaden and enrich our holdings, help us meet the demand for multiple copies of heavily used titles, and may replace lost or damaged materials.

We rely on donations to help us maintain and enrich the quality of our collection.


What our library needs:

  • Financial contributions
  • Hardback books in good condition in topical areas that support the curriculum
  • Quality paperbacks in good condition in topical areas that support the curriculum
  • Rare works and those of significant value to researchers

Other materials sought:

What you should NOT donate:

  • Books of little use in an academic library
  • Damaged or heavily underlined books
  • Commonly collected, incomplete, or short runs of academic journals
  • Current newspapers (except on specialized topics)
  • Inspirational literature
  • Old textbooks (particularly in the sciences)
  • Laboratory and repair manuals
  • Most artifacts (objects)
  • Workbooks
  • Photocopies

You may also purchase something for the library. For example, if you wish to remember a friend's special interest in the Humanities, Social Sciences, or Science & Engineering, one of our subject area selectors will select a book, score, compact disc, or other item in the price range you specify. This saves you the trouble of selecting an item and ensures your donation will not duplicate something we already have.



How to make a donation:

  • First, call the library staff member in charge of gifts at 504-865-5602 to discuss your donation and any special circumstances regarding your gift.
  • Box books and other items before bringing them to the library.
  • For large donations, we can provide limited pickup services in the New Orleans area when given reasonable advance notice.
  • Please note: If for some reason we decide your gift is not suitable for our collection, we may sell it through our annual book sale and use the money to purchase materials we do need, or we may give it to another library.

Please send financial donations to the Library Dean, or donate online.

Address:
Library Dean
Howard-Tilton Memorial Library
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 865-5131



Your gifts to the library are tax deductible

  • All gifts to the library are considered charitable donations.
  • If you claim a deduction of more than $5,000 for a non-cash gift, you will need an appraisal. The library or its employees cannot provide appraisals under IRS rules.
  • Since tax laws change from time to time, we encourage you to seek advice from a knowledgeable tax consultant about current requirements.

You may also make a major gift.

  • Major gifts can include bequests made through a will; deferred gifts that provide you or others with a life income and then benefit the library; and outright gifts, such as cash or marketable securities.
  • Your gift can also add to or create an endowed fund that keeps the principal intact and uses only the income. The library has several endowed funds to which you can contribute; or, we can establish a new endowed fund for a minimum of $20,000 in your name or the name of someone you wish to memorialize.
  • Tulane's Office of Planned Gifts will be happy to discuss such gifts with you. Please contact the Tulane Office of Development at 3439 Prytania St., Suite 200, New Orleans LA 70115, (800) 999-0101.