[Genealib] Valuing a collection

[Kenneth Aitken]

The last two major projects I took on at my last library job was to do a
preliminary evaluation, then supervise a couple of professionals. After 24
years of buying and collecting local and regional materials, I thot I was
good. However when the pros looked at it, my values were good but not good
enough.

In both cases what we sought was the replacement value of each book, ie in
bookman's terms we looked for specimans in very good, fine and new
condition.

I went to abebooks.com, searched each title, found current prices if any,
selected the highest price for the best condition-- assuming that by the
time we needed to replace a title it would cost at least that much.

The other I estmated based on my experience in the out-of-print and rare
book market.

My 14k books by my estimation were worth $300,000. The pros said $450,000.
One book printed in1918 I valued at $1200, immediately another bookman told
me $2000, but ffour  months later it was assessed at  $3500 in its tattered
condition and $4500 to replace.

My advice, tell your bean counter these books do not depreciate like
computers or office furniture. The appreciate! Then check out the Antiqarian
Booksellers Association of America www.abaa.org and find a member near you,
call them up and discuss your need. Appraisals cost money. Your stakeholds
need to appreciate a collection your size has value. Your insurance company
would appreciate an itemized appraisal.

Ken

On 6/29/06, Laura Spurrier <laurajs at pacbell.net> wrote:
>
> I've been asked to put a dollar value on our collection of 25-30K
> books and other media.  My treasurer is hoping he can depreciate them
> for accounting purposes.  (We're a private non-profit.)  Any number
> arrived at must also be used for insurance purposes.  I have a
> problem with this philosophically because it seems to me that the
> older and more out-of-print the books become, the more they have
> value to genealogists.  Has anyone else dealt with this issue?  We do
> not circulate materials so that factor is not a consideration.
>         Laura Spurrier
>         California Genealogical Society
>         Oakland, CA
> _______________________________________________
> genealib mailing list
> genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
> http://mailman.acomp.usf.edu/mailman/listinfo/genealib
>



-- 
Kenneth G. Aitken, MLS
Family History Education Services
Regina, SK  Canada
kgaitken at gmail.com

Check out my blog! www.genealogy-education.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.acomp.usf.edu/pipermail/genealib/attachments/20060629/6f60416b/attachment.html