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Bulletin of the Medical Library Association logoLink to Bulletin of the Medical Library Association
. 1970 Jul;58(3):336–340.

Treasure or White Elephant? *

Helen Crawford 1
PMCID: PMC197472  PMID: 5424515

Abstract

Small libraries have problems with accepting gifts of older material. Older textbooks are probably worthless, while real rarities may belong elsewhere. The usefulness of the book to the collection must be considered. While textbooks age, monographs have a longer life, and history and biography last forever. Ephemeral pamphlets have historical value. Condition of the book also affects its value. A library should always keep publications about its own institution.

Suggestions are given on whether to discard or sell, with warnings about pitfalls in selling.

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