Bequests and Donations are effective ways of supporting the Alexander Turnbull Library. The generosity of donors has made a huge contribution to the growth in the Library since Alexander Turnbull’s original bequest of 55,000 books and other items.
The Library accepts gifts that meet the criteria for its acquisitions policies, such as items that may be of historical value, including books, documents, paintings, drawings, family papers and photographs. Contact the curator of the relevant collection or the Turnbull’s Chief Librarian, using the Ask a Librarian service at the top of the Home page of National Library of New Zealand website.
Financial bequests — made direct to the Friends of the Turnbull Library — are used to support the Library’s work of collecting, preserving, and improving the dissemination of knowledge of New Zealand’s heritage. Bequests and substantial financial donations to the Friends are always invested to preserve the capital, and only the interest is used to carry out special projects.
The Friends of the Turnbull Library also seeks donations to assist in special projects. This year we have once again sponsored a writer’s session at the Auckland Writers Festival, and we welcome donations to allow us to continue that support. We also urge you to consider making a substantial donation to help us increase the funding we can offer to scholars researching in the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library. The generosity of our membership enabled us to increase it to $20,000 in 2020.
In 2006, members made generous contributions towards the cost of commissioning a bronze portrait of the late historian, Michael King, which was then presented to the Library. In 2007, donations were received to assist in the conservation of one of the oil paintings in the Drawings and Prints Collection.
Since 2008 the Friends of the Turnbull Library has been registered with Charities Services (CC22660), confirming our eligibility to issue tax-deductible receipts for charitable donations.