Legal Issues in Archival Donations

Legal Issues in Archival Donations

This workshop will explore the legal issues surrounding the donation of archival material in Canada. It will cover acquisition and ownership topics such as: transferring ownership and rights, reappraisal, and de-accessioning; loans and loan agreements; as well as abandoned and unclaimed materials. The workshop will also delve into tax and cultural property laws that pertain to the donation of archival materials, including tax credits for archival materials, the Cultural Property Export and Import Act, and monetary appraisals.  

The workshop is intended for anyone wanting to learn more about the donation and tax receipting process for archival materials, and the legal framework that applies to the donation of archival records in Canada. The format of the course will consist of an on-line lecture and class discussion. A reading list and sample templates will be provided.

About the Instructor:  Loryl MacDonald is the Associate Chief Librarian for Special Collections and Director of Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library at the University of Toronto. In this capacity, she oversees significant archival and rare book holdings including donations. Prior to this, she was an archivist at the University of Toronto Archives and Records Management from 1998 to 2019. Loryl has both a Master of Archival Studies and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia. She has served as the President of the Association of Canadian Archivists, the Archives Association of Ontario, and the Toronto Area Archivists Group. Loryl also teaches the graduate course Legal Issues and Archives at the U. of T. Faculty of Information. She was guest co-editor on to Archivaria 69: Special Issue on Archives and the Law (Spring 2010).