The Library welcomes contributions of books, manuscripts, personal papers, works of art on paper, digital objects, and other materials suitable for the Library’s collections. The Library’s major collecting areas are:
- American history, with an emphasis on the mid-Atlantic region, ca.1750-1840
- American anthropology, with an emphasis on Native American languages and cultures
- Natural history and natural philosophy
- Life sciences, with an emphasis on evolutionary theory, genetics, molecular biology, and paleontology
- Physical sciences in the 20th and 21st centuries, with an emphasis on quantum physics
- Medical research in the 20th and 21st centuries
Gifts of tangible personal property are accepted when donated materials enhance existing collections, fall within the collection development policy of the Library, or represent an extraordinary opportunity to document areas related to the mission of the Library.
Gifts are accepted with the proviso that the APS Library becomes the sole owner of the donated material and therefore determines retention, cataloguing procedures, preservation format, and conditions for access and/or publication. Donors sign a Deed of Gift transferring physical ownership and copyright of the donated materials to the Library. In keeping with IRS regulations, professional appraisals of such gifts for tax purposes are the responsibility of donors. Any restrictions must be consistent with the Society’s general Gift Policies. All Library acquisitions are catalogued and made available for public use as quickly as possible after accessioning.
Prospective donors should contact:
Martin L. Levitt, Librarian
215-440-3403
mlevitt [at] amphilsoc [dot] org
Charles B. Greifenstein, Associate Librarian and Curator of Manuscripts
215-440-3404
cgreifenstein [at] amphilsoc [dot] org