Unique library treasures being lost to the public
sir – We rightly condemn the destruction of unique books and manuscripts in recent years by fanatics in Timbuktu and Iraq. However, we too are losing unique books from the public realm, not by destruction, but through their sale by institutions and charitable bodies.
A current case is the auctioning next month of the magnificent Lawes Agricultural Trust’s Russell collection (associated with the world’s oldest agricultural research station at Rothamsted). It is made up of hundreds of exceptionally rare or unique books dating from the 15th to the 19th century.
I acknowledge that charitable bodies that possess rarely consulted libraries are burdened with high insurance and conservation costs.
The Museums Association has a detailed “disposal toolkit” advising on the ethical sale or transfer of items to other institutions. Unacceptable disposals include: those done primarily for financial gain; ad hoc disposal not in a museum’s long-term interests or adversely affecting its reputation; and those that remove items from the public domain (unless in exceptional circumstances).
Perhaps trustees of other institutions should follow these ethical guidelines. When the sale of unique material is unavoidable then surely the Government should step in to save it for the nation. Otherwise, what will future generations, who may again highly value the printed word, think of us? Roger Croston
Christleton, Cheshire