The Institute is always interested in considering offers of donations of books and related materials for its collections. If you have materials which you think would complement our collections, please contact us by email or letter, giving us details of the items you wish to donate. Offers of donated items will be reviewed and assessed quickly. If accepted, they will be integrated into our collections, and records will be added to our catalogues.
What We Collect
We have particular strength in History of Medicine and History of Science, History of Botany and Pharmacy, History of the Book and the Scientific Illustration, Ethnobotany and Ethnomedicine, but we also collect books in many related areas.
If you have materials that you are interested in donating, but are unsure if they fit our areas of collecting, please contact us to discuss your specific donation. If you would like to know more about books in your collection, you may want to consult YOUR OLD BOOKS: a guide assembled by the Rare Book and Manuscript Division of the American Library Association.
Why Donate?
The Historia Plantarum Collection is a unique, primary resource for researchers in the United States and around the world. With the donation of each new item, we are able to increase the breadth and depth of our resources to better serve scholars who depend on our collections.
How Can I Make a Donation?
The first step is to contact the Institute at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We will help you to determine if the Historia Plantarum Collection is the best place for your books.
Monetary Appraisal for Tax Deductions
Donors may take a tax deduction for book donations. Donors wishing to have more information on this matter should speak with either a tax consultant or an attorney. If you intend to claim a deduction of over $5,000, it is our understanding that the Internal Revenue Services requires a formal appraisal from a qualified appraiser. Our staff may not appraise the monetary value of collections or individual items, nor hire an appraiser for you. To find an appraiser in your area, you can either search the Association of American Antiquarian Book Sellers database.
Tax Deduction
Each gift to our Library is acknowledged with an acknowledgment letter, stating the number of volumes and the date of receipt. Gifts of appraised value will receive a proper receipt. Upon receipt, books and other donated material becomes property of the Institute.
Currently, a taxpayer must file Form 8283, "Noncash Charitable Contributions," (Section A) if the fair market value of the donation exceeds $500. If a deduction of more than $5000 is claimed for an item or a group of similar items donated, the taxpayer must also complete section B of the form.
About tax-exempt Contributions
The Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions, Inc., is recognized as tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. EIN: 26-0864917.
As a charitable corporation, exempt from income tax, the Institute is required to file the form 990 with the Federal Government and the financial information is presented in accordance with IRS regulations. Should you wish to review our Statement of Financial Position and Statement of Activities and Changes in Net Assets, presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, you will find these tables in our Annual Report.
