We at CPL insure our collections for replacement value. To determine
this value we use a variety of methods. This is particularly tricky in
Fine Arts and Special Collections which I head.
For Fine Arts we count the number of physical volumes, separating out
the music from the visual arts. We keep separate track of folios and
periodicals. We are able to determine the average cost to us of the
volumes we have acquired by purchase over the last year. For the folios,
it is necessary to sample the collection each time the insurance
evaluation comes up. We look online in abebooks.com for the resale value
of 40 to 50 folio volumes. We find a surprising number of them listed
for sale. We then average the costs. For the rare materials, last year
we hired a rarebook dealer to select items, estimate and substantiate
his estimates, and list them separately. The number of rare books thus
treated will increase as we continue doing the evaluations (we have just
started this process). Periodicals are done by average subscription
costs.
Visual arts books must be accounted for separately from music because
visual arts books tend to appreciate; music does not. I feel that as
long as the costs of new books increases, we are accounting for the
appreciation of the older stock. We have around 200,000 of these volumes
to account for, so you can imagine how large the insurance value is!
There is an equal quantity in Special Collections, so the amount of the
capital value of the book collection in Fine Arts and Special
Collections is staggering.
The method we use is perhaps a little flawed, but it does give us a very
good picture of what it would cost to replace anything we could replace.
Stephen Zietz
Fine Arts and Special Collections
Cleveland Public Library
----- Original Message -----
From: Moira Steven <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2002 11:25 am
Subject: Re: [ARLIS-L] Valuation of Library Collections
> Please reply on list as there are probably many of us that could
> use this
> information.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Moira
> ***********************************************
> Moira Steven, Head Librarian
> Atlanta College of Art Library
> 1280 Peachtree Street NE
> Atlanta, GA 30309
> Phone: 404-733-5021/Fax: 404-733-5312
> ************************************************
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chris Jorgensen [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2002 11:33 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [ARLIS-L] Valuation of Library Collections
>
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> I have been asked to assign a monetary value to our library's
> collection. I
> have done some searching for articles, books, etc. about how to
> perform a
> valuation of a library collection with only a very little success.
> Could
> anyone suggest some resources to help guide a person in such an
> endeavor?
> Also, if anyone has recently assessed his/her own library
> collection, I
> would appreciate hearing about the methodology used, amount of
> time spent,
> etc.
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Christine Jorgensen
> Head Librarian
> Milton R. and Pauline S. Abrahams Library
> Joslyn Art Museum
> 2200 Dodge Street
> Omaha, NE 68102-1292
> 402.661.3843 (Voice)
> 402.342.2376 (Fax)
> [log in to unmask]
>
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>
> __________________________________________________________________
> Mail submissions to [log in to unmask]
> For information about joining ARLIS/NA see:
> http://www.arlisna.org//membership.html
> Send administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests,
> etc) to [log in to unmask]
> ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance:
> http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html
> Questions may be addressed to list owner (Kerri Scannell) at:
> [log in to unmask]
__________________________________________________________________
Mail submissions to [log in to unmask]
For information about joining ARLIS/NA see:
http://www.arlisna.org//membership.html
Send administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc)
to [log in to unmask]
ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance:
http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html
Questions may be addressed to list owner (Kerri Scannell) at: [log in to unmask]
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