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Why Give to University Libraries

Why give to the Libraries? Because your gift, no matter what the amount, can contribute to the vibrant educational legacy that is the Penn State University Libraries. 

Direct your gift to one or several of the following areas to keep the Libraries on the leading edge of academic research and service. When current and excellent resources are available to students, faculty, and alumni it helps to attract new students and faculty to the University.

If you have questions or would like to speak with a member of our University Libraries development team, please contact us.

  • ADOPT A BOOK - Your gift will help purchase the latest books, periodicals, and electronic resources that would be excellent scholarly additions to our collections.
  • RESTORE A BOOK - Help preserve our valuable collections by a gift to restore the many rare books, manuscripts, and photographs in our vaults, as well as other items in our special collections. 
  • ADOPT A JOURNAL - All disciplines have academic journals where the newest research is published. A gift to help in the purchase of a subscription for a special area of study would provide critical and timely educational support.
  • ADOPT A DATABASE - With advanced technology, new databases are becoming available at a rapid pace and they are essential to support the on-going research of the University community.
  • SUPPORT A COLLECTION - The Libraries has thousands of special collections, archives, and manuscripts. One is certain to be of interest to you. Keeping these sometimes fragile, often rare, items in the best condition possible takes skill, time, and money.
  • SUPPORT A LIBRARY - Many people don't realize that Penn State Libraries is comprised of twenty-four individual libraries across the Commonwealth. They each need support for their specific work and research.
  • CREATE AN ENDOWMENT - A minimum gift of $25,000 will generate income to the Libraries for perpetuity. With such a gift a special commemorative bookplate, imprinted with the name of the honoree, will be placed in library books purchased with the income generated from that endowment.
  • MATCHING GIFTS - Thousands of companies match donations given to non-profit organizations. You can significantly expand the value of your gift if you work for one of these generous employers.
  • GIFTS IN KIND - A gift-in-kind is a non-monetary gift, such as books, manuscripts, art, or recordings. Some of our most highly prized materials in University Libraries are contributed as gifts-in-kind. Although we appreciate the generosity of individuals who would like to support us in this way, not every gift will fit our needs. Please contact us if you would like to discuss your gift-in-kind options.
  • PENN STATE PRESS - The Penn State Libraries also works to support the Penn State Press, the publishing arm of Penn state. The Press publishes the highest quality books and journals, and is committed to serving the University community, the citizens of Pennsylvania, and scholars around the world. Click here to learn more.
  • UNRESTRICTED GIFTS - Unrestricted gifts are invaluable to us in filling the inevitable shortfall between budgetary limits and a library's actual need. Unrestricted gifts provide University Libraries with the greatest flexibility to meet our goal to the University.
  • HONORARY AND MEMORIAL GIFTS - Would you like to have a loved one honored or memorialized through a University Libraries gift? All of the gift listed above can include this option. Please talk with us.