Donor & Community Consultations

Woodson Research Center can provide expert advice on the following:

• Personal archiving
• Process of donating or selling materials to an archive
• Donating electronic or audio/visual materials to the Woodson
• Appraising your books or personal collections
   

Personal Archiving

How should you take care of your family’s books, photos, textile, and digital objects?

• Personal Archiving Resources list (PDF)
• Personal Archiving Guide
• Contact woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586 for more information or to ask specific questions.
   

Process of Donating or Selling Materials to an Archive

Interested in placing your materials at Woodson Research Center or possibly another archive?

• Discussion of fitting the collection overall
• Donating / Deed of Gift
• Selling
• What to expect
   

Donating Electronic or Audio/Visual Materials to Woodson

• The Woodson Research Center provides donor guidelines for electronic or audio/visual materials coming into the Woodson Research Center. 
• Contact woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586 for more information or to ask specific questions.
   

Appraising Books or Personal Collections

An appraisal can help determine the fair market value of materials for purposes of negotiating a sale or a tax write-off associated with donating the materials. Woodson Research Center suggests the following resources to help you begin conducting research on a suitable appraiser for your collection. The Woodson cannot provide appraisals because it would be a legal conflict of interest.

• For basic information on the appraisal process, read Your Old Books, a pamphlet prepared by the Rare Books and Manuscript Section (RBMS) of the American Library Association (ALA).
   
• Find a bookseller to help you sell your books: Antiquarian Bookseller's Association of America publishes an annual membership directory. It includes subject and geographical indices to help you contact the booksellers who might be of assistance
   
• Find an appraiser:
  • The American Society of Appraisers (the “Society”) is a multi-discipline non-profit international organization of professional appraisers (valuers).
  • The Appraisers Association of America
  • Local area appraisers:
    • John Payne, Payne Associates
      2309 Camino Alto, Austin, TX 78746
      512-328-4535
    • Kurt Zimmerman
      740 Holly Springs Dr., Conroe, TX 77302
      936-537-1983
      zbooks@yahoo.com