Dear Everett (and all): This is such a potentially loaded question that I'm only responding because it has been on my mind rather constantly in recent months for various reasons. If I understand correctly, applying your question to my own institution, we are attempting to compare the fair market value of the contents of the special collections against the same value of the contents of the general paper (and other hardcopy media) collections in the Central Library and its nine (9) branches, including the value of subscriptions to databases and other "intangible" resources. We are NOT including endowments or physical buildings, or "services." I would put the fair market value of the contents of the PPL Special Collections (ca. 40,000 vols.) between $10-15 million (conservatively), assuming that the dispersal was done properly through the auction houses over time. If I am right, I would say that the worth of Special Collections is roughly equal to the rest of the collections, always depending of course on how one calculates that worth. The argument I always make (which of course is a familiar one to the list) is that, properly utilized, special collections has the potential to generate revenue, support, and material gifts in far greater proportions than the general collections can ever hope to. Selling off your special collections gets you a one-time sum, and if the funds are mismanaged, then you have no money, and no collections either. It's the difference between a one-time infusion and a renewable resource. Of course, one can always pull the old Massachusetts Horticultural Society defense -- "books are no longer in our mission"--but if library administrators start saying such things en masse, I'll need to find another profession. Rick _______________________________ Richard Ring Special Collections Librarian Providence Public Library 150 Empire Street Providence, RI 02903 Phone: 401-455-8021 Fax (to my attn): 401-455-8065 Email: rring@provlib.org Blogging at http://pplspeccoll.blogspot.com/ ________________________________ From: Rare book and manuscripts on behalf of Everett Wilkie Sent: Wed 1/23/2008 10:52 PM To: EXLIBRIS-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU Subject: [EXLIBRIS-L] What are special collections worth? This question is for those of you who work in special collections that are part of a larger unit, such as a college or university library or a public library. It is not an appropriate question for those of you who work in stand-alone libraries not connected to a parent institution. Please feel free to answer me privately or post a reponse to the list at large. Do you think that the monetary value of your collections equals or exceeds the monetary value of all the institution's other, general library collections? In other words, are the materials in special collections worth more than all the other resources the general library has? And I would factor into that equation all special collections on, say, a university campus, which may have multiple specials collections libraries and multiple general libraries. Harvard, for example, springs to mind in that case. This is actually a fairly serious security question relating to a general administration's view of special collections. Everett Wilkie PO Box 11 Bluffton, TX 78607 325-379-1810 Cell: 717-419-9419 ewilkie@ix.netcom.com "Garnished with dicey tomatoes." --Menu
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