>>Does anyone know if something like this exists for museum objects (other than rare books?> I'd be curious to look at it Allison Smith UW-Madison, Dept. of Library and Information Studies | MISSING/STOLEN BOOKS CLEARINGHOUSE NOW AVAILABLE Every year hundreds of thousands of books, manuscripts, photographs, color plates, maps, and other rare and valuable items are stolen from museums, libraries, book shops, and private collections. Most of these are stolen only to be sold to unsuspecting collectors, dealers, and institutions. As these thefts have reached epidemic proportions, many people have expressed a desire for a central clearinghouse which would list such items in an easily searchable database and provide an easy means to contribute new items. Previously available only to subscribers, the Interloc "Missing and Stolen Books" database is now offered as a free service to the antiquarian, library and collector communities at large. Items listed have the usual bibliographical description: author, title, edition, place and date of publication, publisher, notes, and other pertinent information. The database is searchable on all fields, including submission date. Each record also lists the name, address, and phone/fax of the person, business, or institution that has submitted the item, as well as a case number for items reported to law enforcement agencies. Direct Dial Access: Interloc will provide, without charge, IBM-PC software which includes an easy-to-use database and a special telecommunications program. Internet Access: Currently limited to e-mail; address: [log in to unmask] Telnet and FTP capability will be added by year's end. Send items to be listed in the following format (an actual listing is provided as an example): HOW A RECORD MIGHT APPEAR ON THE INTERLOC SYSTEM: USER_REC: STOLENBK000006 LIST_DATE: 08121944 AUTHOR: Twain, Mark (Samuel L. Clemens) TITLE: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. PUBLISHER: Chas L. Webster PLACE_PUB: New York DATE_PUB: 1885. EDITION: 1st American CONDITION: Fine, fresh copy bound by Bayntun. COMMENTS: Full dark green morocco, all edges gilt. Contact: Houle Gallery 7260 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036 213-937-5858 KEYWORD: American Literature LISTED BY: Richard M. Weatherford, Interloc, Inc., P.O. Box 5. Southworth, WA 98386 PHONE: (206) 871-3617 FAX: (206) 871-5626 HOW THIS RECORD WOULD HAVE BEEN SENT: Subject: Missing and Stolen Body: UR|STOLENBK000006 AA|Twain, Mark (Samuel L. Clemens) TI|Adventures of Huckleberry Finn PU|Chas L. Webster PP|New York DP|1885 ED|1st American CN|Fine, fresh copy bound by Bayntun. NC|Full dark green morocco, all edges gilt. Contact: Houle Gallery NC|7260 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036 213-937-5858 KE|American Literature THE UIEE PREFIX CODES ARE: AA| Author AI| Illustator BD| Binding CI| Catalog/ISBN CN| Condition DP| Date Published ED| Edition KE| Keywords (insert up to 9 lines) MT| Main Topic NC| Comments (insert as many lines as needed) NT| Notes (insert as many lines as needed) PP| Place Published PU| Publisher TI| Title TP| Size/Type UR| Your record number You may include as many items as you wish. Be sure to separate each item with a blank line. For more information, please contact: Interloc, Inc. PO Box 5 Southworth, WA 98386 206.871.3617 206.871.5626 fax [log in to unmask]