Library and Information Science Commons^™

Theft And Vandalism Of Books, Manuscripts, And Related Materials In Public And Academic Libraries, Archives, And Special Collections, Silke P. Higgins

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

While book theft and vandalism in public and academic libraries, as well as archives and special collections, are not considered a modern problem, they have, in recent years, become a matter of increasing concern to these institutions. Easy access to materials housed in multi-story libraries difficult to effectively supervise; the online presence of archives and special collections detailing the contents of their collections to attract researchers and visitors; and a seemingly growing number of persons willing to express their personal convictions and beliefs by removing or destroying items from public and private collections, are among the primary reasons for the …