Book donation

The Library does not encourage unsolicited donations of books and back-runs of print journals are specifically excluded. When Textbook Rescue is in operation, people should be encouraged to use the book boxes for textbooks. The great majority of material which is offered to us is unsuitable.

Customer-facing information can be found on the Library website on the donating books page, in the 'Using the Library' section of the website.

Unsolicited book donations

Unsolicited donations are managed by Vikki Garlick of the Collection Development and Management Team. We do not have a formal policy, but the Library Collections Group has approved a Principles for unsolicited donations of books document. 

Telephone queries

Please ask them to email uml.book.donations@manchester.ac.uk with as much information as possible.

On-site donations

Ask them to sign the Unsolicited donations: terms of acceptance form and advise their material will not necessarily be added to stock.

Special Collections

If the material on offer is either pre-1850 or a more modern collection that may be considered ‘Special’, please direct people to Julie Ramwell at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library or Steven Hartshorne at the Main Library.

Bereavement

If there is any mention of a bereavement, please direct people to Vikki Garlick.

Alternative recipients for donated books

1. Better World Books A ‘for profit social enterprise’ which channels some of its profits into global literacy initiatives. Mainly interested in books with an ISBN, but antiquarian/rare books are also handled by a separate department. 
2. Anybook They collect from libraries or individuals. You can specify that a proportion of any profits go back to a library of your choice. Tel: 01522 519 991 sales@anybook.biz 
3. Oxfam Bookshops Oxfam has a network of bookshops across the country as well as a central online shop.

Information about older material

1. How much is my old book worth? Guidance from online antiquarian bookseller Abebooks
2. Rare Books & Manuscripts Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries (American Library Association) has information about what makes a book rare and important.