Marking books and manuscripts

The security committee of the Association of College and Research
Libraries (ACRL) has recently published a set of guidelines for
marking books, manuscripts, and other special collections
materials--they draw a distinction between hidden or difficult to
detect marks, which they say are intended to aid in the recovery of
stolen material, and readily visible marks, which are meant to be a
deterrent to thieves.   Hidden marks alone are not considered
adequate for marking collection objects.  Visible marks should be
"all but impossible to remove...".  and the ink or other marking
medium should meet "current standards for permanence and
conservation".  As far as I am aware, the Library of Congress
stopped supplying its manuscript marking ink in 1996 because of
reported problems with the ink bleeding or smudging in alcohol. Does
anyone know of another marking material in current use, or have
anything to share about marking practices in libraries and archives?
(For the complete text of the ACRL guidelines, see C&RL News, April
1999, p. 304)

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:1
                 Distributed: Wednesday, June 16, 1999
                        Message Id: cdl-13-1-010
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