Donate to the Library

Thank you for your interest in donating to the J. Oliver Buswell Jr. Library. The generosity of our supporters greatly enhances our ability to train students for ministry and support faculty research.

Donate Books

The Buswell Library welcomes donations of books and other materials as long as they are in decent condition and free from mildew, mold, insects, etc. Donated materials may be used for one of several good purposes, such as new additions to our collection, replacements for existing copies that are heavily worn, supplementation in the form of second or even third copies for works in heavy demand, or sale at modest prices to our students for their own libraries with the proceeds being used to enhance our holdings or services.

Please contact the library in advance to discuss your desired donation and to ensure that the library is prepared to receive it. You may either email library@covenantseminary.edu or call 314.392.4100. Please note that all donations must be delivered to the library, as the library staff are not available to pick up donations.

Income Tax Deduction Info

Donation of materials to the Buswell Library qualifies as a non-cash charitable contribution that can be used as an income tax deduction. The Library cannot appraise donations, so it is up to the donor to determine the fair market value in accordance with IRS regulations.

  • If you claim a deduction for non-cash gifts totaling more than $500, you must file IRS Form 8283 (pdf).

  • If you claim a deduction for non-cash gifts totaling more than $5,000, you must have a qualified independent appraiser establish the value of your donation. (See IRS Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property (pdf).) Since the Library cannot perform the appraisal, it is the donor’s responsibility to have the appraisal performed before transferring the gift to the Library.

Most importantly, please check with the IRS and your tax advisor for the most current information on deducting non-cash charitable contributions.

Friends of the Library Fund

The Friends of the Library Fund enables the purchase of additional materials above and beyond the annual acquisitions budget and supports other special projects within the Library, enhancing the Library’s ability to support the training of students for ministry and the research of our faculty.

You can give online now to the Friends of the Library Fund—when selecting where to direct your support, choose “Other”, and then enter “Friends of the Library”. You can also contact the Development office at 1.800.264.8064 for additional ways to give in support of the Buswell Library.