----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Dear Colleagues, Thank you for all the great information regarding how to compute a dollar value for my collection. For the benefit of others who may be interested, I'll try to summarize here. There seems to be number of ways to approach this and a varied range of cost figures to assign to specific objects. I've listed all possible catagories and ranges when more than one figure was given. Comments in brackets ([ ]) are my assumptions as to the application. RARE BOOKS each title individually appraised or "Special Collections" -- half @ $500 and half @ $1000 "Vault Collection" -- $5000 [per title] "Artists' Books" -- $300 [per title] BOOKS/CIRCULATING COLLECTION $60 [per volume] or $100 per volume or "Regular" -- $40 [per volume] "Oversize" -- $100 per volume CURRENT PERIODICALS (unbound) -- $60 per subscription BOUND PERIODICALS -- $100 per volume MICROFORMS $15 per volume equivalent or $1000 per set VERTICAL FILE MATERIALS $1 per clipping[/piece] or $5 per file SLIDES -- $5 per slide PICTURES/MOUNTED REPRODUCTIONS -- $0.25 to $2.00 per picture POSTERS -- $50 per poster FILMS/VIDEOTAPES $100 [per tape] or $200 per title RECORD ALBUMS -- $15 [per disk] AUDIOTAPES -- $10 per tape COMPACT DISCS -- $40 [per disk] PROCESSING -- "included" to $30 per volume[/item] Most of those who responded to my request for information noted that the figures that they were providing were agreed upon with their insurance companies. So, I guess this information would be a jumping off point in negotiations with your individual insurance providers. One contributor also recommended that photographs be taken. I assume that means photographing individual unique and/or expensive items as well as general stacks/Library layout. Thanks again to my contributors. Deborah L. Barlow Head Librarian Corcoran Gallery of Art Library 1705 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20006-3908 ph: 202-822-1484 fx: 202-822-1486 [log in to unmask]