Re: Map thief Gilbert Bland

["Joe McLaughlin" <s0547@SPERRIN.ulst.ac.uk>]

Date:          Fri, 4 Apr 1997 10:10:34 -0800
Reply-to:      exlibris@library.berkeley.edu
From:          Miles Harvey <mharvey@interaccess.com>
To:            Multiple recipients of list <exlibris@library.berkeley.edu>
Subject:       Map thief Gilbert Bland

First, an update: Gilbert Bland, the man alleged to have pilfered antique
maps from at least 18 libraries in the United States and Canada, will soon
be a free man. On March 31, a court in Delaware gave Bland a two-year
suspended sentence for his thefts from the University of Delaware. This was
Bland's final legal hurdle; he will be free in a month at the latest. After
plea bargains with federal prosecutors in Virginia and local and state
prosecutors in North Carolina and Delaware, he will have spent a total of
less than a year and a half in prison.

Next, a request: I am writing a lengthy feature on the Bland case for
Outside magazine, and I'm looking for some reaction to the sentencing. Was
it too light? Should more universities have filed charges? Does this
relatively light sentencing encourage future Gilbert Blands? Please e-mail
me (mharvey@interaccess.com) with your thoughts. I'd also appreciate it if
respondents would include a phone number so that I can contact them
directly.

I'm also interested in getting the reaction of map dealers. Specifically,
I'd like to know whether the Bland case had any significant impact on the
trade. Has it made dealers more cautious? Did it affect prices? My deadline
is tight, so I'm anxious to hear from all interested parties as soon as
possible.

Thanks,

Miles Harvey
Correspondent
Outside magazine
mharvey@interaccess.com
(773) 989-7235


I am just tossing this in to kind of be a Devil's Advocate. I have no 
sympathy for book thieves. I think one of the problems of book theft 
is that it is often regarded as not "real" theft. But, yes there is a 
"but", if a criminal has been convicted and served his sentence, does 
he have to be so meticulously documented and followed afterwards? 
When will his offence be expunged? Or will the library profession 
hound him forever?
Joe McLaughlin
Acting Sub-Librarian Science and Informatics
University of Ulster at Coleraine
Coleraine
Co Derry BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland
+44 (0)1265 324257
jfe.mclaughlin@ulst.ac.uk