I can see the argument for marking manuscripts as a security measure. It acts as a type of insurance in the case of theft, etc. However, I don't particularly feel good about marking manuscripts. Isn't it taught in library school preservation classes to use methods that are reversible? If necessary, we use pencil to mark our manuscripts. Isn't the manuscript itself a unique item? In that case, there would be no need to have a unique mark or stamp, especially if you have thorough cataloging practices. Benjamin Johnson Manuscript Cataloger Massachusetts Historical Society 1154 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts 02215 617-646-0569 Any opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily those of my employer. -----Original Message----- From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Barbara Austen Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 10:49 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: marking manuscripts Dear Colleagues: At a staff meeting today our library director distributed the recently published "Guidelines for the security of rare books, manuscripts and other special collections" issued by ACRL's RBMS. Appendix one provides guidelines for marking manuscripts and rare books, while Section VII categorically states that materials themselves should be identified by a unique mark. We are discussing using a stamp with our OCLC symbol and permanent ink to discreetly mark our manuscripts. I don't know how I feel about this. The library director's explanation was that since these manuscripts are going to be permanently retained by the institution, reducing the market value by stamping an item should not be of any concern. Are other institutions marking manuscripts with a permanent stamp? What were the pros and cons of doing so? What a great question for a Friday! ============================================================ Barbara Austen Manuscript Archivist / Cataloger The Connecticut Historical Society Museum One Elizabeth Street Hartford, CT 06105 (860) 236-5621, ext. 251 Fax: (860) 236-2664 www.chs.org Join us for one of our coming events! Visit www.chs.org/events.htm for a complete listing. A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]> A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>