Theft and Vandalism: A real threat to preservation

Not all consumers of information have the same level of respect for preserved information. Some people do not feel that information that conflicts with their personal beliefs should be preserved, while others feel that preserved material collections are a gold mine waiting to be exploited. In the year 2000, more than %80 of libraries queried (including the Library of Congress) reported thefts of collection materials, and %50 reported mutilation or other malicious damage to collection materials (Revelli, 2000). Let's examine a couple of examples to gain a little more insight into this aspect of the preservation of information.



E. Forbes Smiley III

Over the course of eight years, E. Forbes Smiley III, an antique map dealer and collector visited a large number of libraries and archives that held map collections and books containing valuable maps. During these visits he clandestinely stole more than 100 maps valued at over $3 million dollars. Not all of the stolen maps were recovered even with the help of Mr. Smiley (maps, 2006).


Gilbert Bland:

Gilbert Bland was arrested as a suspect in the theft of $220,000 worth of rare maps and documents from East coast libraries and archives in 1996. It is unknown exactly what documents were stolen (Mazmanian, 1996).


Library of Congress:

After a number of books, periodicals, and other holdings in the Library of Congress were discovered to have been maliciously damaged during a period between January and May of 1993, investigations revealed that a library worked had been damaging books and other holdings intentionally. Further investigations revealed that a number of separate incidents of similar nature had likely occurred at various times in the past which had been intentionally covered up (Flaff, 1995).


Poetry book slashing

An unknown persons cut out the contents of over 40 poetry books, many of which are no longer in print, totaling over $3000 is replacement costs in multiple California libraries (McCormick, 1995).


Comedie des Champs-Elysees

1986 - Six masterpiece paintings, worth an estimated $3 million, are stolen directly from their frames on the walls, fortunately to be located and returned unharmed (Conrad, 1987).


This problem is not new though. Here are a few selected historical examples:

1824 - Lord Byron's memoirs and it's only copy, is burned in a fireplace due to it's explicit descriptions of his exploits (Conrad, 1987).

1890 - After his death, the widow of Sir Richard Burton burns his memoirs, titled 'The Scented Garden', which he considered to be his highest accomplishment in life because she felt that the contents were scandalous (Conrad, 1987).

1914 - London National Gallery. An angry suffragette storms into the museum and attacks the sculpture 'Mirror of Venus' with a hatchet. The sculpture is, fortunately unharmed (Conrad, 1987).


How can preservers of information combat this trend?

As with most things, there is no simple, direct solution that fits all needs - depending on the size of the preservation institution, this can be a simple or quite complex problem to solve (Arterburn, 1996). For example one library chose to promote awareness by turning their mutilated books into works of art (Meyer, 2005), while a number of others have instituted security cameras (G.F., 1995) and restricted access to more remote collection holding areas to key personnel (Griffith, 1978). In general, it has been suggested that limiting bags, purses, and other large containers that could be used to hold stolen collection items, or conceal tools used for vandalism or theft is the best policy, along with constant vigilance (Arterburn, 1996).

Regardless of the choices made or methods used, thorough awareness of potential problems, especially when collections include valuable or controversial materials, is essential to the preservation of information.


Further Reading:

The Island of Lost Maps: A True Story of Cartographic Crime by Miles Harvey (ISBN: 978-0767908269)

Works Cited:

Arterburn, T R. (1996). Librarians: caretakers or crimefighters?. American libraries, 27, 32-34.

Conrad, B. (1987). A woeful gallery of the world. Smithsonian, 18, 239-240.

Flaff, G. (1995). LC security flaws prompt federal probes. American libraries, 868-.

Griffith, J W. (1978). Library thefts: a problem that won. American libraries, 9(4).

G F. (1995). Mutilated books prompt LC security crackdown. American libraries, 26(8), 749-.

maps. (2006). Map Dealer Now Admits Library Theft. American libraries, 37(8), 18-.

Mazmanian, A. (1996). Suspected thief of rare maps caught. Library journal, 121, 14-15.

McCormick, E. (1995). Book "slicer" hits over 20 California poetry collections. American libraries, 26, 391-.

Meyer, R. (2005). Slasher Story. Art journal, 64(1), 32-41.

Revelli, C. (2000). Furti, vandalismi e cose affini. Theft, vandalism, and similar acts. Biblioteche oggi, 18(1), 58-.