Sender: Rare book and manuscripts <EXLIBRIS-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Everett,
You are a lovely person, but you can ask the silliest questions.
What are the collections worth? Their weight in gold. End of discussion.
In scholastic theology, this question would have been called a confusion of
categories, like asking about the possible number of angels on the head of a
pin.
Gabriel Austin
-----Original Message-----
From: Rare book and manuscripts [mailto:EXLIBRIS-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU] On
Behalf Of Everett Wilkie
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 8:53 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