Hi everyone.  At Edmonton Public Library our policy regarding donated
magazine or newspapers is the following:  We accept donations unconditionally -
with the understanding that we are not obligated to include them in our
collection.  We may pass them on or dispose of any items that don't meet our
existing collection development criteria.  Our criteria for inclusion are the
same as that for paid subscriptions.  The publication must be thought to have
sufficient general interest or reference value.  Anticipated usage is a big
consideration since we will catalogue and process donated periodicals.  for
donated subscriptions we ask that the donor commit to one year, preferably two,
since the library is treating these publications the same as any titles we pay
for.  Donations are acknowledged by a "book plate" inside individual issues.
Subject librarians decide which donations to accept.  As for controversial
materials -- these decisions would most likely be handled on a "case by case"
basis involving both the appropriate subject librarian and management.

Angie Mills
<AMILLS@PUBLIB.EDMONTON.AB.CA>