Hi, Fred-- Since you're setting up an archive with books, I thought you might appreciate a rare book librarian's perspective. Assuming that you are talking about a situation where your library purchased multiple copies of a particular title deemed to be popular, they are probably identical. Nonetheless I would check each one. I don't think you need to keep all of them, but I would look out for:
1. The copies in best condition 2. Hardcover copies in their original dust jackets 3. First editions and first printings 4. Any copies presented to the library by private owners, particularly if there is evidence of provenance of importance to your own collection (i.e. a teacher, principal, rabbi, or donor with a special connection to your library) 5. If you have evidence of variations in form of issue (i.e. different bindings, for example. This is less likely than if you were working with mostly nineteenth century pieces, but it's worth keeping an eye out none theless) Presumably the copies you retain will be used mostly for displays and class presentations and be available to researchers, rather than to be issued to general borrowers. I wish you all the best. Dan Rettberg Daniel J. Rettberg, Ph.D. Rare Book and Manuscript Bibliographer Klau Library Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion 3101 Clifton Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45220-2488 drettb...@huc.edu --- Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: hasaf...@osu.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
