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Collection Advisement

We welcome your feedback and expertise as we continue to develop our collections and expand our services. Share recommendations regarding collection development, preservation, access, and community engagement; suggest potential funding and revenue opportunities; and help us connect with individuals, organizations, and institutions interested in collaborating with Special Collections and Archives. Your insights and professional networks can help strengthen our programs, broaden the reach of our collections, and support our long-term efforts to preserve and make accessible the history of Cal Poly Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and the surrounding region.

Donate Materials 

Please note that donations cannot be received on campus until they are formally accepted by the university.   

However, we welcome offers of potential gifts that enhance our topical collecting strengths, particularly archival materials that complement our unique .  

To facilitate donation consideration, please email speccollections@cpp.edu with the following information about the donation:  

• Scope of the donation  

• Condition of the materials  

• Any existing donor expectations or restrictions  

• Existing arrangement or description  

• Size (number of boxes or books)  

• Whether any donor support would be offered for collection care, processing, or supplies  

For rare book-related items, please provide an inventory (Title List template (XLSX)) to assess gaps in our holdings. Any appraisal or valuation notes to aid in the decision should also be included, along with photographs of the materials for review.  

Furthermore, please be aware that we are unable to accept archival collections or books with significant preservation challenges (e.g., mold, unplayable formats, broken covers or spines, etc.).  

In addition to providing the above information, a Gift-In-Kind Intent Form will be requested should the University Library be interested in moving forward with a proposed donation. 

Financial Contributions 

Community support for preserving our region's history and our main collecting areas is essential. We welcome financial gifts to support our mission which will be used towards purchasing collections, archival supplies, exhibition cases, digitizing materials, hiring student assistants, and special projects like our planned renovation or to launch our fellowship program. To make a financial contribution please visit the and select “University Library Special Collections Excellence” from the dropdown designation menu. 

Endowments 

Create or contribute to an endowment. Honor a friend or loved one through a named gift to build and sustain our Special Collections and Archives unit. Endowments are the gifts that keep on giving. They include named faculty and staff positions or enable us to purchase materials for the collection and help us acquire needed archival supplies when state funds are not available or sufficient. 

Oral Histories 

If you have firsthand experiences with the history of our campus, the southern California Wine industry, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Valley, the Arabian Horse industry, or other subject areas relevant to our collection, please consider recording an oral history interview. We also welcome help in conducting and transcribing interviews. View our . 

If you would like to contribute in any of the above ways, please contact speccollections@cpp.edu. We look forward to hearing from you!