Library Acquisitions
Public Institutions:
Librarian Services will respond to the institutions Collections and Acquisitions Policy, and can offer a range of services from acquisition, provenance searches, condition reports, independant valuation, expert consultation and advise. We also work with institutions to exhibit or participate in festivals, art fairs and biennials. See the Belfast-Exposed Photography Centre Case-Study below
Private Collections:
In consultation Librarian Services will create an acquisition policy for you. This will set out guidelines that define how to select and acquire books and multiples for a collection. See the example of Graham & Sandy Small below.
Usually the privilege of Museums, Art Galleries and Public Libraries we also of private collector's book and multiples acquisition policy we consider the condition of the books in the existing collection and future acquisitions, there value, and the costs involved.
An acquisitions policy is a document outlining the aims and ambitions about a collection.
Factors to consider
- Rationale: The collectors aims and ambitions for their library of bookshelf
- Condition: Whether the books or multiples is in good enough condition to be preserved and displayed
- Value: Whether the books represent good value for the money and reflect the collector's goals
- Origin: The history of the books or multiples, including its ownership and provenance
- Artist, Author: Whether the artist is emerging or underrepresented, or if their work is relevant to the collector's interests
- Cost: The total cost of acquiring, storing, and preserving the art
- Documentation: Whether the collector has all the necessary records and information about the books, edition or multiple
The collection of Graham and Sandy Small
Background
Graham and Sandy has a small-holding in Somerset and he inherited his mother's book collection, they both shared a love for art, literature and fishing. Sandy, Graham’s partner is a lawyer working in criminal law. They share a bookshelf in a ground floor reception room. The bookshelf is a freestanding wooden (light hardwood) 3m long, 2.3m high with a depth of 40cm in a heated room with an average temperature of around 15-17 degrees. There favorite book is Fly Fishing by J R Heartly and a prized possession is a Billy Bass singing Bass fish circa 1980’s. Noteable artbooks include a catalogue section from Hauser & Wirth, Somerset. I characterised their outlook to collecting as curious, open and with a good sense of the absurd. They contacted Librarian Services having been recommended by an artist friend. Their aim was to invest in some rare books and multiples, to create a fun and serious bookshelf which would be both a talking point and a way of learning more about art, here is their policy as our case study.
The collection of Graham and Sandy Small