engleski

Precautious steps in preventing and protecting old books collection items

Crisis or disasters are not the only opportunities for theft or illicit trafficking, although they can stimulate these activities. Besides the librarian’s control over items and the whole collection and well-built repositories and well-equipped reading-rooms, there are also several procedures that can help prevent theft or illicit trafficking. First of all, it is important to identify and describe the collection and subcollection and particular items in them and store data. Local inventories, catalogues, registers etc., are useful regarding the oldest items of the Manuscripts and Rare Books Collection. Detailed item description made of general, internationally accepted elements and filled with local details will also be useful for librarians in any process of protecting, identifying and eventually recovering stolen items. Bibliographic fingerprints could also be helpful in the process of identification when internationally accepted. Collected in a unique database, bibliographic fingerprints would be more helpful. The proper signification of an item also contributes to preventing theft and illegal trafficking afterwards. Careful storing and manipulating particular items in the everyday working process are important as well. Furthermore, careful examination and checking of items to be acquired for library collection are also desirable. Presumably, once stolen items could be offered to the library for purchase, and such a possibility should be avoided. The legislation is also important, as well as close cooperation with the cultural and civil sector (police officers, inspectors and criminalists)

bibliographic fingerprints, collection, hand press book items, legislative

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