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  
 
 
 
 
 

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