[585] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
RE: Archival Function
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (mcnamara@vixvax.mgi.com)
Wed Jun 24 10:36:26 1992
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1992 09:14:49 CDT
Reply-To: mcnamara@mgi.com
From: mcnamara@vixvax.mgi.com
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Most if not all libraries weed materials, of course; the weeding may be done
> only sporadically and may not involve many items, but it does occur. When it
> comes to weeded materials, it is my guess that a considerable
> percentage of these libraries simply get rid of the materials and do not take
> the time to check OCLC or other sources to determine whether that particular
> battered book on nineteenth-century agricultural practices in Iowa, for
> instance, is the only library copy left perhaps in the world.
>
> Kevin Engel
> Grinnell College (Iowa)
> engelk@grin.edu
This strikes close to home to this library user (am I allowed to
talk here?). I have bought systems science classics from a used book store
in town which were weeded from a local (will reamin nameless) reference
library. It so happens that these were the only copies in Minnesota!
Calling the library got a response of : too old, not pertinent to today's
business user, etc. I *know* how little they got for these, based on
my own sales to this bookstore.
What comes to mind is that there could be (is?) an exchange
program for books like this. I know of the one for scientific journals.
It could even be electronic!
p.s. Interlibrary loan doesn't exist for the "independent scholar".
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Curt McNamara (mcnamara@mgi.com) |"The present would be full of all
Mgmt. Graphics, Inc. |possible futures, if the past had
1401 E. 79th St. |not already projected a pattern
Mpls., MN 55425 |upon it." Andre Gide
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