Price Guides: An Assessment

Abstract

This review article surveys what price guides are available for rare book, manuscript, and special collection libraries. The guides will be reviewed indicating their strengths and weaknesses. Guides to the value of books are useful for librarians, who should be mindful of the observation in the recently published Standards for Ethical Conduct for Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Librarians with Guidelines for Institutional Practice in Support of the Standards , 2nd ed. (see bibliography below): “In the course of working with donors, special collections librarians are often required to advise on market value of books and manuscripts. Although it is . . .