Value of Old Books
PrintQ. One of our regular library visitors is clearing the attic of the family home now that her parents are deceased. Where can I direct her to learn more about the value of these books?
A. This has been very frequently asked question over the years, prompting the development of a pamphlet RTSD, the division that is now the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS), used to give away called "My Old Books." Some years ago, responsibility for the pamphlet was transferred to the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) of the Association for College and Research Libraries and retitled, Your Old Books.
If it is likely that these books would be donated to your library, or the friends group, remember that the donor is responsible for determining the value of the gift. Please see our wiki page for more information on library responsibilities with regard to handling gifts.
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Comments
book value
What is the value of a 1965, Kurt Vonnegut “God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater” no sheath, great condition?
Monetary value of a specific title
If you think a book in your possession might be valuable, please see the Appraisals page on the ALA Professional Tips Wiki for advice and details, including the link to How much is my book worth? and other Frequently Asked Questions of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America.
Retraction!
After posting a reply to this blog on the origin of Your Old Books, I was informed by an RBMS member who did some extra research that Peter Van Wingen was in fact working from another text, specifically, a 1976 pamphlet by Shirley Lebo entitled My Old Books: What Are They Worth? What Should I Do With Them?
We are all quite surprised, but happy to be put straight. Could you please not post my comment, or delete it if you already have? Thanks.
My/Your Old Books
Deborah,
Yes, it was the Lebo pamphlet that RTSD distributed—and while we needed (and still need) the information, we certainly did not need two instances of it. Collaborating by supporting the RBMS work was the happy outcome.
Karen Muller
History of Your Old Books
We RBMS members are quite delighted about the publicity given to our very useful publication, Your Old Books, on this page. It continues to be among the most popular pages on the RBMS website. Our collective memory gives it a different origin, however, than is given here. We think it has always been an ACRL/RBMS publication, written by the late (and still lamented) Peter Van Wingen. The following statement appears on the publication:
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The original version of this pamphlet was produced in 1989 under the auspices of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section, Association of College and Research Libraries, by the late Peter Van Wingen, Specialist for the Book Arts, Rare and Special Collections Division at the Library of Congress. It was revised by the RBMS Publications Committee in 1994.
In 1997, the RBMS Electronic Information Technologies Committee (ad hoc) published the revised text on the RBMS web site. The RBMS Publications Committee substantially revised and updated the text again in 2005. Copyright © 2005, American Library Association.
Anyone who wishes to create a link to this document from another web site or publish its url elsewhere may do so without requesting permission. Anyone who wishes to reproduce the entire document or portion thereof in any format, print or electronic, should seek permission from the current chair of the RBMS Publications Committee.
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In addition, the very first issue of the RBMS newsletter in 1984 (http://www.rbms.info/publications/newsletters/rbms_no01.pdf) p. 5 states that "The [Continuing Education] Committee is also at work on two brochures on ‘what to do with my old books.’ One will be for the use of librarians; the other, for readers."
Are we mistaken to give ourselves full credit for Your Old Books?
Deborah J. Leslie
Chair of RBMS, 2009-2010
Value of Old Books
When I have dealt with people who want to donate old books and want to know their value, I have told them to put together a list of the titles that they donated (some libraries do this as part of their letter accepting the gift). They can then go into resources like ALibris and Bibliofind to determine the approximate value of their title. In some cases, people may think that an old book is valuable just because it is old. If the library gives the donor a list, the donor can then do the searching, determine the value and fight over it with the IRS.