We want to hear from you! Fill out the Library's User Survey and enter to win.

The Springer 2024 eBooks are not yet available due to an ongoing issue with the publisher. We are working with them to resolve this matter.

Donating books or materials to the Library

General policy

The University of Waterloo Library welcomes donations of books and other materials including periodicals and archival material that support the current teaching and research needs of the University. Appropriate gifts enhance the collection and support our commitment to excellence in research and instruction.

The Library acknowledges and follows UWaterloo Policy 7 Gift Acceptance.

The University of Waterloo Library may refuse all or part of a donation, and will agree to take possession of, and provide a tax receipt for, only those items which are of use to the Library. Gifts are accepted with the understanding that ownership transfers to the Library. We reserve the right to decide the retention, location, cataloguing, use, and disposition of gifts.

All donations are documented with a donor form (Word) and acknowledged (unless otherwise requested). The Library arranges for appraisal of gifts requiring a tax receipt. Tax receipts are issued by the University's Office of Advancement in accordance with Revenue Canada guidelines.

How to donate material

We encourage those interested in donating materials to prepare a list of titles and include for each item: author, title, publisher, and date of publication.

If a list is not possible, the Library prefers to select the material it needs while the prospective gift is still in its original location.

Special Collections & Archives welcomes archival materials and rare books. For more information visit the Special Collections & Archives web page.

Generally we are not able to accept the following:

  • older textbooks
  • popular magazines or periodicals
  • scattered or single volumes of a multi-volume set
  • popular fiction (consider Waterloo Reads)
  • titles that the Library already owns
  • material in poor physical condition
  • photocopies

Further information about donating to the Library

Please contact:

Nancy Collins
Head, Information Services and Resources, Dana Porter Libary
519-888-4567, ext. 42446

Jennifer Haas
Head, Information Services and Resources, Davis Centre Library
519-888-4567, ext. 47469