In reviewing library holdings for deaccessioning, some legal/ethical
problems have arisen; being not a librarian, I would like to ask for
advice from those with more expertise. The materials have been clearly
reviewed and are above-board deaccessions. The questions arise when we
discuss what to do with the books that are not transferred to other
departmental holdings in the museum. Q 1: should we have an independent
appraisal of their market value? Q 2: I am uncomfortable with the idea of
having the appraisal done by the same people who would be offering bids;
others are not: comments? Q 3: That's right, the people here want to ask
several dealers to make bids for the lot so that we can pick the best
offer; am I out of line in being uncomfortable with this? I am used to
dealing with specimen deaccessioning questions and am not sure how the
rules apply to library deaccessioning. I don't want to make things
draconian, but I am concerned that there is potential for conflict of
interest here. Advice and suggestions welcomed. Please reply to me
off-list to spare everyone else. Many thanks.

Sally Shelton
Director, Collections Care and Conservation


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|                 San Diego Natural History Museum                      |
|                          P. O. Box 1390                               |
|                San Diego, California   92112  USA                     |
|             phone (619) 232-3821; FAX (619) 232-0248                  |
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