Please read our detailed policy here

Library Book Donation Policy

The American Hungarian Library and Historical Society (the Library) selectively accepts donations that align with our collection development goals. We kindly ask that you review this policy before bringing in any materials.

Accepted Donations

Hungarian materials:

• Books, pamphlets, booklets, and other materials published by Hungarian emigrant organizations or publishing houses printed before 1990.

• Hungarian books translated into English after 2010 that are not already in our catalog.

• Books published since 2020 by prominent Hungarian authors that are in excellent condition and not already in our collection.

• Children’s books in excellent condition and not already in our collection.

• Documents, photos, and other materials of significance related to Hungarian emigrant organizations (pre 1990).

• Archival Materials and Historical Documents, e.g. Photographs and documents from members of the Hungarian community documenting their history, such as refugee status papers, travel documents, photos from their escape and travel to the United States, and materials related to important community events or memorabilia.

• Board games in excellent condition.

Unique and valuable books:

• Very rare books or first editions signed by the author.

How to Donate

1. Contact Us: Please do not leave donations outside the library. Due to limited space and resources all such items will be discarded. To arrange a donation, please contact the Library in advance to discuss your materials.

2. Review Process: All donated materials will be evaluated by library staff based on the criteria listed above.

3. Final Decision: The Library reserves the right to decline any donation. Materials that are not added to our collection will be discarded or recycled. We cannot return rejected donations.

Thank you for your understanding and for helping us build a valuable collection for our community.