“Respectfully, No”: How to Handle Unwanted Donations from Passionate Donors

“Respectfully, No”: How to Handle Unwanted Donations from Passionate Donors

Presentation at the 2026 CALA Northeast Chapter Annual Conference

Bai, Yuzhou, 1990-

2026-04-10

Bai, Yuzhou, 1990-

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How to Handle Unwanted Donations from Passionate Donors

Many of us have met enthusiastic donors who are eager to give materials to our libraries. These offers can be exciting: signed copies, first editions, manuscripts, or even artwork…items that seem too valuable to pass up. But accepting donations that we don’t have the time, staff, or resources to properly care for can create long-term challenges, especially as our budgets and staffing become tighter these days. In this presentation, I will share practical strategies and real-life examples for respectfully declining donations that aren’t a good fit, while still building and maintaining strong relationships with our most dedicated supporters.

Bai, Yuzhou