What do I need to consider before making a donation?

When thinking about offering your records to the Archives of Manitoba, please consider the following:

Transfer of Ownership

• Donors are required to transfer physical ownership of records to the Archives of Manitoba.
  
• The transfer of ownership ensures that the Archives owns the records and can preserve and make the records accessible for current and future generations.

Transfer of Copyright

• The intellectual rights of records creators are protected under Canadian Copyright law.
  
• Copyright owners are encouraged to transfer copyright to the Archives of Manitoba.
  
• The transfer of copyright ensures that the records can be used by researchers for many different purposes.

Placing restrictions on records

• The Archives of Manitoba promotes open access to the records it holds.  However, sometimes restrictions are necessary. 
  
• Archivists will work with donors to determine appropriate restrictions.  Records are restricted for a specific period of time and opened for research when that time expires. Procedures for access before the expiration date will also be established.

Simple Gift or Gift to the Crown

• The most common method of donating records to the Archives is to offer records as a simple gift.  Details of the gift are set out in a document signed by the donor and the Archives.
  
• In some cases, a donor can benefit by offering records as a Gift to the Crown.  If this is the case, the records will be appraised to establish fair market value.  A tax receipt reflecting the appraised value is issued to the donor following the appraisal. As with a simple gift, details relating to a Gift to the Crown are set out in a document signed by the donor and the Archives.  The donor may be required to pay the costs of the appraisal.