Donating to the Livingston Library

 

Donating to the Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library

Thank you for your interest in donating to the Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library.

Due to the current situation we request donors refrain from mailing donations of physical items (i.e. books and artifacts) unti the libaray has re-opened and without formal approval from a member of the library or museum staff.

Acquisitions for the Library are made possible through the generous donations of individuals. Our staff members assess donations to ensure we can provide the best care for the items over time. Acquired materials are used for research, education, and exhibitions.

If you are interested in donating to the Library and Archives, or Museum, please contact our Director at Avastola@nymasoniclibrary.org or call 212-337-6619. You may also send a letter to the Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library, 71 West 23rd Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY, 10010.

When contacting us, please be prepared to provide a thorough description of the item(s) you wish to donate. Items should not be mailed or left at the Library before we formally accept them. A Deed of Gift form must be completed before anything is left in our care. A staff member will notify you, as soon as possible, of our decision. Thank you again for thinking of the Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library.

Donation Procedures

When there is a potential donation, item(s) will be assessed by Collections staff members, and will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

  • The item fits within the mission of the Library. It is either masonic in nature, the creator is a known masonic, or has great importance in American history or culture.
  • The condition of the item is good and can be used for exhibits and programming.
  • The following are known: provenance, the creator(s) or author(s), place and date of creation, the item(s) purpose and its relationship to events.
  • It is not a duplicate of an item already in the collection.

The Collections staff meets regularly to review donations. If all or part of the donation is accepted, the donor will be notified by staff and a Deed of Gift form will be mailed to be signed. If no part of the donation is accepted, the donor will be notified by the staff. The Deed of Gift designates the item(s) as the property of the Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library of the Grand Lodge of New York and will be accessioned, cataloged, and preserved for future use.

Appraisals

Please note that the Library’s staff is not authorized to provide appraisals of materials, nor can we offer any advice on tax deductibility, as per federal tax law. Any appraisal value should be done by the donor, and before the Deed of Gift, form is signed.

Other Ways to Donate

Every contribution to the library supports the presentation and preservation of our collection and library initiatives. We are grateful for your support and look forward to keeping these treasures accessible for many years to come.

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Light the Lamp of Knowledge Endowment Campaign

The goal of this campaign is to raise a six-million-dollar endowment to ensure a secure future for the library. Patrons who donate $100 or more may select a book from among the 60,000 volumes in the collection. Once a book is selected, A Light the Lamp of Knowledge bookplate bearing the donor’s name, an “In Memory of”, or an “In Celebration of” dedication will be placed inside the book for readers and researchers to see and discover for years to come.

The Masonic Brotherhood Fund

If checks and cash are a thing of the past, click here to head over to the Masonic Brotherhood Fund to donate to the Livingston Library by credit card.