Book auction ‘like selling off family silver’

12:05pm Tuesday 5th April 2011 in News Photograph of the Author By David Paine, @davidpaineWN #worcsnews

Book auction ‘like selling off family silver’ Book auction ‘like selling off family silver’

MORE books from the basement of Worcester Library will be sold at auction tomorrow – despite calls not to.

Worcestershire County Council has put up 30 lots and is aiming to make between £11,000 to £16,00 from the sales at Dominic Winter Book Auctions in Gloucestershire.

We exclusively revealed in Saturday’s Worcester News that over the last six months, the council has been auctioning off books, some of which are rare first editions hundreds of years old, coining in £218,735. One book fetched £52,000 alone.

The council claims it is simply streamlining stock as it prepares to move the library from Foregate Street into the Hive, off the Butts, and says the money will be used to catalogue, conserve and digitise its remaining collection.

While the council said the books sold were either duplicates, had little local relevance, were not used, were in a bad condition, or not worth much, its actions have received stinging criticism from historians.

Worcester Civic Society has called for a moratorium on the auctions so books earmarked for sale can be scrutinised.

When asked yesterday whether the council was still pushing ahead with the auction, a spokesman said: “The sale is taking place following a rigorous and systematic process working closely with colleagues from the record office, Worcester city and county museums, the Hurd Library at Hartlebury Castle, and the special collections librarian from the University of Worcester.

“This process has used criteria based on local significance, direct relevance to museum collections, numbers of copies already held in our stocks and usage and condition and we are also working with academic historians from the university to ensure retention of historically significant items.”

Christine Penney, Hurd librarian, said: “The implication that I had advance knowledge of these sales in incorrect.

“I was invited, with a colleague from the University of Worcester, to view the exciting and largely unrecorded remaining treasures only a few weeks ago. I was told that the sales were ‘not about money’ but, as a professional librarian, I was greatly concerned.”

Dr Pat Hughes, a building historian specialising in documentary research, of Bromwich Road, St John’s, Worcester, said: “I am amazed that at a time when Worcester is trying to establish itself as a centre for academic excellence, such a resource is being dispersed for the sake of short-term hard cash.

"It is very like selling off the family silver.”

Alan Higgins, a Worcestershire Archaeological Society member, said: “Worcester is now a university city and the people concerned should be ashamed of themselves.

“What sort of message is this sending out about Worcester being a centre of culture?”

Comments(25)

Maggie Would says...
12:15pm Tue 5 Apr 11

I think it's a great shame that local groups are not given the chance to make an offer first, but that is on the assumption that they would be of local interest - there's no guarantee of that.
I found a load of old books (100+ years) in a recycling skip at Bilford Road tip the other week. Some were in excellent condition. What sacrilege.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

CJH says...
12:22pm Tue 5 Apr 11

Absolutely agree Maggie, but now I can't get the image out of my head of you up-ended in a skip having a good rummage! Did Mr Would have to hold your ankles?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jb says...
12:27pm Tue 5 Apr 11

While the council said the books sold were either duplicates, had little local relevance, were not used, were in a bad condition, or not worth much, its actions have received stinging criticism from historians.

The auction raised over £200k with one book going for £52k so that statement is proved to be completely false. Why not give local people the chance of buying these or at least attending the auctions? I wonder if anyone knows if the auctions were actually advertised anywhere? I'm all for the council making money at a time when the city needs it but to do something which appears so drastic and in such a covert manner makes me wonder if anymore public treasures have been sold off.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Maggie Would says...
12:31pm Tue 5 Apr 11

I was tempted but I left them where they were (CCTV, theft & all that - it would be just my luck to get caught!).
I don't take Mr Would there for the same reason. He is a terrible hoarder and wouldn't be able to help himself. Furthermore, I am a bit of a minimalist and I might be tempted to leave him there.
I think I've been banned from the tip now, anyway, as I got the chaps that work there over excited accidentally last time I went. It was only a bit of banter, but ........

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

brooksider says...
12:54pm Tue 5 Apr 11

Typical of the philistines in our running our councils, build a multi million pound library and sell off the books!
Instead of taking responsibility for this stupid act, 'a spokesman' is trying to shift blame.
I suppose The Hive is going to filled with Maeve Binchy and 'Idiots Guide' books instead?
The Worcestershire Library system is a shambles, they are more concerned about the internet than books.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

MR H Marks says...
1:07pm Tue 5 Apr 11

How many people have actually been into the library and read any of these books? Im not saying its not slightly worrying that some important books have been sold of, however it would be interesting to know exactly the importance of these books in local context and which books have been sold of due to duplicates. The Worcestershire record office retains thousands of records of high importance and the same goes for the library and books, its slightly alarmist and sensationalist to make out this has been done by a group of philistines. If the facts come to light we may well find, a selection of books have been sold of that no one has ever used, have no relevance to Worcester(shire) but have allowed the council to get some much needed cash to fund services. That im sure if fell under the axe everyone would be making sweeping moaning comments as usual.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Maggie Would says...
1:24pm Tue 5 Apr 11

That's what I was trying to say, Mr H, before I got sidetracked.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

MR H Marks says...
1:45pm Tue 5 Apr 11

Im glad I was able to say it for you Maggie :-), I get a little concerned by the sweeping nature and sensationalist way these stories come across. We have no facts about the books or indeed their relevance im sure other libraries and institutions have sales periodically of items and paraphernalia that is not used or of no use. It makes sense to convert that into resources that can be used locally or have local relevance. Obviously I might be totally wrong, but it would be interesting to know the facts, before we have the usual round of the council is rubbish everything is rubbish etc..

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Maggie Would says...
2:48pm Tue 5 Apr 11

You are very sensible, Mr H, but it's quite good fun to have a go at the council occasionally.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

MR H Marks says...
3:03pm Tue 5 Apr 11

Maggie, I do agree I just think its more appropriate to serve harsh words on the council when they are justified and there is factual evidence that they have not served the community in someway. It’s the constant, the council are rubbish I hate the council clap trap that gets my goat, its mostly puerile and probably from people who haven’t got a clue about the subject they are even talking about. A factual measured argument is far more effective, as my old English teacher told Me Point Example Explanation, Anyway rant over I just had to get that out :-)

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

BlogIT says...
3:18pm Tue 5 Apr 11

Mr H and Maggie, whilst I agree with you both, I also have to question the manner in which this sale was conducted. For whatever reason, the books are being sold. However, the Council spokesperson said that they had consulted the experts. The Hurd Librarian at Hartlebury seems to refute this. Who is correct? Who else refutes this?
.
Despite the outcry from the citizens of Worcester, the sale continues. Surely an outcry like this should have sparked off an enquiry at the County Council before continuing?
.
WN can you follow up on this and get the Councillor responsible to explain on record?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

brooksider says...
3:25pm Tue 5 Apr 11

its not sensationalist at all, the underhand way the book sale has been performed in a very underhand way.
You fail to grasp the hypocrisy of saddling the local Council Taxpayers with millions of pounds worth of debt to build a 'centre of learning and education' whilst secretly selling off historic books donated by for the education of all.
The books may have been in store for years but that is the fault of the librarians and not of Worcestershire residents.
The thing I find most ludicrous is the paltry amount of money this is generating for the Library Service which is certainly less than the annual cost of supplying computer terminals to allow people to visit social network sites.
The Council deserve a pat on the back when they do things right but also they deserve the brickbats when they make errors of judgement and this is one such occassion.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

MR H Marks says...
3:42pm Tue 5 Apr 11

And thankfully brooksider you are always about to point out the wrong doings I stand by my point this storey is incomplete, for whatever reason. Which allows people such as yourself to get hot under the collar without the full storey, I fully grasp the nature of the article but it would be better to put it in context with actual facts. You make so many sweeping statements in your posts its laughable, “The thing I find most ludicrous is the paltry amount of money this is generating for the Library Service which is certainly less than the annual cost of supplying computer terminals to allow people to visit social network sites” inferring the council supplies internet access for the use of social networking, im sure a proportion of the time that does happen, however its used for research learning resources ect… oh and fact finding something you may want to spend sometime doing. Its hardly a secret auction either they where sold at a public auction, it wasn’t as if one of the councillors was selling them out the back of their car.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

penneycl says...
3:50pm Tue 5 Apr 11

The worrying aspects of these sales are the loss to local scholarship and heritage, the failure to consult local experts (I am listed today as one, as librarian of the Hurd Library, but was not invited in till last month, by which time the horse had bolted), the fact many of the books had, I was told, not been recorded, so no-one really knew what was there and the overlooking of our local university of Worcester. The staff there have the expertise and knowledge to promote and study such collections and they have not been given the chance to do so. When I visited I was shown shelves of so-called "duplicates" - in reality no such thing. They were different editions, which is a very different matter. The whole enterprise has been unnecessary and most unfortunate. As a professional librarian for over 40 years I am dismayed.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

brooksider says...
5:12pm Tue 5 Apr 11

MR H Marks wrote:
And thankfully brooksider you are always about to point out the wrong doings I stand by my point this storey is incomplete, for whatever reason. Which allows people such as yourself to get hot under the collar without the full storey, I fully grasp the nature of the article but it would be better to put it in context with actual facts. You make so many sweeping statements in your posts its laughable, “The thing I find most ludicrous is the paltry amount of money this is generating for the Library Service which is certainly less than the annual cost of supplying computer terminals to allow people to visit social network sites” inferring the council supplies internet access for the use of social networking, im sure a proportion of the time that does happen, however its used for research learning resources ect… oh and fact finding something you may want to spend sometime doing. Its hardly a secret auction either they where sold at a public auction, it wasn’t as if one of the councillors was selling them out the back of their car.
Unlike Mr Marks it seems, I use local libraries regularly.
The council IS paying for people to surf social websites, go to a library near you and see for yourself.
I have no objection to people using the computers for learning etc. but I refuse to believe it is the correct use of public money for us Council Taxpayers to pay for people to view Facebook etc.
There is inadequate supervision of the computer terminals, I have seen staff viewing their emails and checking Tennis scores, to the extent of seeing one person viewing **** when a member of staff was only 5 feet away.
As for the 'public auction' the decision to sell these books was not made public and none of the books sold so far have been catalogued as being from Worcestershire County Council Libraries and we won't have found out unless 'An Essay on the Principle of Population' by Thomas Malthus had been sold for £52,000, They could hardly keep it quiet after that.
I only hope the Council negotiated a reduction in commission with Dominc Winter otherwise us taxpayers would have lost over £30,000 in commission, if not we mght as well have flogged some of them out of a car boot.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Vigornian says...
5:13pm Tue 5 Apr 11

penneycl wrote:
The worrying aspects of these sales are the loss to local scholarship and heritage, the failure to consult local experts (I am listed today as one, as librarian of the Hurd Library, but was not invited in till last month, by which time the horse had bolted), the fact many of the books had, I was told, not been recorded, so no-one really knew what was there and the overlooking of our local university of Worcester. The staff there have the expertise and knowledge to promote and study such collections and they have not been given the chance to do so. When I visited I was shown shelves of so-called "duplicates" - in reality no such thing. They were different editions, which is a very different matter. The whole enterprise has been unnecessary and most unfortunate. As a professional librarian for over 40 years I am dismayed.
Duplication of stock does not necessarily mean that there was more than one copy in Worcester's archive, but copies of the books are available elsewhere. Through legal deposit libraries such as the British Library, Bodleian etc, copies are more than likely to available there for the public to consult - even in the comfort of their own library through the inter-library loan scheme. If these books that have gone unnoticed for many a year have been sold to raise money that benefits the library going into the future, then I'm very happy. The fact that someone is buying these lots (in a public auction) shows that someone is planning to use and treasure them, and if you want a particular book that isn't held by Worcester Libraries, ask them for an inter-library loan request.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

AndySevern says...
5:58pm Tue 5 Apr 11

How has it been secret? I heard people talking about this a few months ago. As people have said it is a public auction, which ensures that they get the appropriate price. And virtually every library has a booksale for items no longer required so it shouldn't be a surprise, even to The Hurd Librarian.

Just because a book is old doesn't mean that it is valuable or of high merit. Just look in antiquarian bookshops (which I like looking in) and there are plenty of 19th century books available for next to nothing as they are not wanted. So again I was glad to hear a specialist auctioneer was being used to avoid them being ripped off.

Each library has their own collection strengths. Is the best place for a £52,000 first edition Worcester City Library? The price shows it is valuable first and foremost as a historic artefact, but the library is not a Museum. If the books in the basement, unused for so many years, don't fit in with then I'd rather them be sold so they can conserve or buy relevant stuff of Worcester interest. Hopefully some of the money will be used to restore the Stuart Collection, which is certainly relevant to Worcester, and which I'm looking forward to being able to use in the new building.

Storm in a tea cup, and I fail to see how selling duplicates or books that aren't used are destroying local scholarship or heritage, and it isn't 'selling the family silver'. Maybe it's just that some people would have liked first choice on them?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

penneycl says...
6:03pm Tue 5 Apr 11

Although the interlibrary loan service is an excellent resource for books not held locally it is not available for rare books (usually pre-1850, such as are the subject of these sales. They are too valuable to be sent away and must be read in the library owning them, sometimes for a fee. Even digitised copies (such as EEBO - Early English Books Online) have to be paid for.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Vigornian says...
6:28pm Tue 5 Apr 11

Or found for free online. The following link is especially for Brooksider if he wants to catch up on a the Principle of Population
http://www.esp.org/b
ooks/malthus/populat
ion/malthus.pdf

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

rositasdawn says...
10:32pm Tue 5 Apr 11

I'am so angry that the county council are selling off books from our library...As it come to something now that everything that is not nailed down will be sold off..The old Library is such a beautiful building, what is to become of that when the library has been transferred????..fla
ts maybe....this is so sad...do we tell future generations that we sold our history to the highest bidder...Worcester is an historic city...in which i was proud of.County council.keep your hands off.!!!!!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

brooksider says...
10:45pm Tue 5 Apr 11

Vigornian wrote:
Or found for free online. The following link is especially for Brooksider if he wants to catch up on a the Principle of Population http://www.esp.org/b ooks/malthus/populat ion/malthus.pdf
Thanks.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

AndySevern says...
8:24am Wed 6 Apr 11

Rositasdawn - they're selling off books that aren't used and aren't relevant. We need to distinguish between what is 'our history' and what is less important. If that money supports the collections that are genuinely important for Worcestershire as our history then I personally think it's a good idea.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

brooksider says...
10:34am Wed 6 Apr 11

'We' being the operative word, 'we' didn't decide.
Why stop at few old books, the Museum and Art Gallery must have thousands of pieces not on display, lets have one of H Marks' car boot sales to get rid of them.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Peter WR5 says...
11:09am Wed 6 Apr 11

The thought of destroying books sits uneasily with me. Deep within my soul is embedded the memory that people gave their lives so that I could have the printed word and in the language that I speak. However, needs must and I took a car boot full of 1960s law text books and my father’s engineering texts from his apprenticeship days in the mid-1930s. I asked the gentleman at the Malvern ‘tip’ whether it was okay to put books in the cardboard hopper. He looked intently at me, paused a very long time, and said slowly, ‘Only … if … you’ve read them … all.’

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

one94 says...
2:39pm Wed 6 Apr 11

Who exactly was it that approaved this sale? I want a name and contact details!
.
I wish WN would position itself more as a champion of the citizens of Worcester, rather than just a mouthpiece for bad news stories from local government.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree