Book Donations to the Jagger Library

Information for Donors

Large parts of the collections of the Jagger Library, University of Cape Town, were destroyed in the disastrous fire of April 2021. UK-based academics have come forward to help with the process of rebuilding the library by donating books.

This is quite a complex operation, since the Jagger Library will not be able to take every title offered, and shipping from the UK needs to be organised. Given the importance of the Jagger Library for Africa-based African Studies scholarship, and the need for a coordinating role, SCOLMA (the UK Libraries and Archives Group on Africa) has volunteered to step in. We will liaise between donors and Jagger Library staff in order to coordinate donation, selection and shipping, and will also be fundraising to pay for shipping costs.

If you would like to donate any of your African Studies books to the Jagger Library, please let us know (contact: Sarah Rhodes, sarah.rhodes@bodleian.ox.ac.uk), and follow the guidelines below.

If you are able to make a donation towards shipping costs we would be most grateful (please let Sarah know, as above).

GUIDELINES FOR DONATING AFRICAN STUDIES TITLES TO THE JAGGER LIBRARY

1. Please make sure you have the donors’ spreadsheet supplied by SCOLMA (available from sarah.rhodes@bodleian.ox.ac.uk).
2. Please check each item in the Jagger Library catalogue at http://www.lib.uct.ac.za/.
3. If you find the item in the catalogue together with the words ‘lost in the fire’, it may be wanted by the Jagger Library. Please add the item details to the donations spreadsheet and reserve it for the librarians’ decision.
4. If you don’t find the item in the catalogue, it may be wanted by the Jagger Library. Please add the item details to the donations spreadsheet and reserve it for the librarians’ decision.
5. If you find the item in the catalogue together with the words ‘survived the fire’, or with no reference to the fire, it is not wanted by the Jagger Library.
6. The condition of donated items should generally be ‘as new’, ‘VG’ (very good) or ‘G’ (good). The Jagger Library is unlikely to want items in poor condition.
7. When ready, please forward your spreadsheet of possible donations to SCOLMA (contact sarah.rhodes@bodleian.ox.ac.uk). We will liaise with the Jagger Library, and will be in touch with you when they have made their selections from your list.
8. If your donation is accepted, we will liaise with you about the best way of getting your books to Oxford, where they will be stored preparatory to shipping.

Thank you for your contribution to this project!

SCOLMA 2.12.22