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Journal and Book Donations

APSA does not accept donations of journals or books due to physical space limitations. However, the association encourages members to contribute to the growth of the discipline by donating to institutions overseas.

Where to Start

Before you contact any organization about donating materials you should make an assessment of what you have in your possession. Creating a list is the best method, noting any missing issues from your collection.

Estimating the Value of Your Donation

Your list will be necessary for tax purposes if you mean to report your donation to the IRS. APSA recommends that you work with a qualified tax or accounting professional to assess the value of journal donations for tax deduction purposes. You will need to document the condition of each item you intend to donate as well as the cost of acquiring the item originally. APSA journal subscriptions are—and have only been—offered to individuals as a benefit of APSA membership and could not have been attained by direct purchase. The cost of membership at the time of subscription is required to set the donation value.

APSA cannot provide an estimate of the value of donations as it is critically dependent upon the physical condition of the journals to be donated, in addition to the cost of membership at the time of acquisition of the journals. APSA can provide information on membership dues during the years the journals were acquired for use by the accountant/appraiser in setting the value.

Your tax or accounting professional should advise you at what total value benchmark the IRS requires that tax deductible donations are appraised by a professional appraiser. The American Society of Appraisers or Periodical Services Company may be able to assist you in locating an appropriate appraiser.

Finding a Home for Your Materials

APSA recommends that you browse the following directories and contact one of the organizations to discuss your options:

American Library Association's Book Donation Program

The Directory of Book, Journal, and Media Donation Programs


Programs Used Previously by Members

Books for Africa
253 East 4th Street 
Saint Paul, MN 55101 USA
Books For Africa (BFA) is a Minnesota based non-profit organization whose mission is to eliminate the book famine in Africa." "BFA does not send books to individual schools and/or libraries. Books, 25,000 per container, are sent to indigenous NGO organizations in Africa who distribute books to schools and libraries in their respective African countries. BFA serves South Africa through a partnership with the Sandy Springs Rotary Club in Atlanta, Georgia." Has copies of their Newsletters. Doners need to fill a minimum of a 20 ft. sea container of books. The port to port ocean freight costs about $1,500 and BFA only pays half.

Books for Asia
booksforasia@asiafound.org 
The Asia Foundation's Books for Asia program has been providing books, software, and other educational materials throughout Asia for almost half a century.  

Bridge to Asia 
450 Mission Street #407
San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: (415) 356-9040 

International Book Bank
Post Office Box 1662
Baltimore, MD 21203
Tel: 410-685-BOOK (2665)  
E-mail: info@internationalbookbank.org
The International Book Bank (IBB) helps increase literacy and advance education by procuring and shipping books and other educational materials to developing countries. Founded in 1987, the IBB distributes books and educational materials to non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations, such as community reading rooms and libraries. in almost 100 developing countries around the world.

Sabre Foundation
872 Massachusetts Avenue., Suite 2-1
Cambridge, MA 02139 U.S.A. 
The Sabre Foundation, founded in 1969, distributes new books and other educational materials to support education, private sector growth, research and higher learning in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Africa and select other regions of the world. 

US Ukraine Foundation "Books for Libraries Project"
733 15th Street NW, Suite 1026
Washington, DC 20005 
Phone: (202) 347-4264 
Fax: (202) 347-4267

World Bank Volunteer Services Book Project
601 19th Street NW, 
Room H2-200
Washington DC 20433
Phone: (202) 473-8960
Fax: (202) 522-0301
wproject@worldbank.org
Collects and ships books to countries in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. Accepts donations in good condition. Texts no more than 10 years old; journals, no more than 5.