Deaccessioning and appraisal

In reviewing library holdings for deaccessioning, some legal/ethical
problems have arisen; being not a librarian, I would like to ask for
advice from those with more expertise. The materials have been
clearly reviewed and are above-board deaccessions. The questions
arise when we discuss what to do with the books that are not
transferred to other departmental holdings in the museum.

    1.  should we have an independent appraisal of their market value?

    2.  I am uncomfortable with the idea of having the appraisal
        done by the same people who would be offering bids; others
        are not: comments?

    3.  That's right, the people here want to ask several dealers to
        make bids for the lot so that we can pick the best offer; am
        I out of line in being uncomfortable with this?

I am used to dealing with specimen deaccessioning questions and am
not sure how the rules apply to library deaccessioning. I don't want
to make things draconian, but I am concerned that there is potential
for conflict of interest here. Advice and suggestions welcomed.
Please reply to me off-list to spare everyone else. Many thanks,

Sally Shelton
Director, Collections Care and Conservation
San Diego Natural History Museum
P.O. Box 1390
San Diego, California  92112
619-232-3821
Fax: 619-232-0248

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                   Conservation DistList Instance 9:9
                   Distributed: Friday, July 14, 1995
                        Message Id: cdl-9-9-006
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