Original posting followed by response:
> From: "Elizabeth Prior" <eprior_at_browardlibrary.org>
>
> I am trying to get some information regarding calculating the
depreciation of a library's collection. I've checked the archives and
have also seen this helpful link:
http://www.lla.state.la.us/gasb34/Libcoll.pdf but wonder if anyone
else has some additional information to share.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Elizabeth Prior / Collection Development Librarian
> Collection Management Department, Libraries Division
> A Service of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners
> (954)497-3661 ext. 233 / fax (954)497-3657
> Broward County Library
> Remote Operations Center
> 3718 W. Oakland Park Blvd.
> Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33311
> eprior_at_browardlibrary.org
==#1===
From: Dianne Cook <cookdc_at_post.queensu.ca>
Estimated useful life of a library's collection is 5 years?!!!!!!!!
Maybe if you are a small public library not used for research.
Use of some of our economics and political studies material,
not to say history, english, mathematics, geology, etc. does
not dwindle away after it is 25 years old. Nor do the majority
of titles wear out.
We have a copy of the Kelmscott Chaucer -- far more than
5 years old. A similar copy was just listed in a booksellers'
catalogue at over $78,000 US.
One of our ongoing tasks is to keep checking the stacks
for those first editions and (now) rare items still in excellent condition
that were bought many years ago at $3 or $4 but now routinely
sell for $500 or more.
I have trouble with the formula.
Dianne Cook
Coordinator of Collection Development
Queen's University Libraries
Kingston Ontario K7L 5C4
cookdc_at_post.queensu.ca
fax: (613) 533-6819
phone: (613) 533-3040
==#2==
From: Michael Rancer <mrancer_at_library.berkeley.edu>
In its annual financial statements, the University of California
system depreciates the value of its library collections over a 15 year
period on a straight line basis. However, for risk management and
insurance purposes, UC reports an annual increase in the value of its
library holdings based on inflationary factors for acquiring
replacement materials.
Mike Rancer
UC Berkeley
==#3==
From: June Pinnell-Stephens <june.pinnell.stephens_at_fnsb.lib.ak.us>
This is the approach we worked out with our Finance Department:
* Items in permanent collections (microfilm, non-circulating
Alaskana, and Antiquarian, in our case) are excluded, since they're
not subjected to damages from circulation and we don't intend to
discard them.
* Periodicals and continuations that are discarded and/or superceded
within 2-3 years are excluded as expenses.
* Other books and audio-visual items are depreciated on a 5-year
schedule, and 5-6 years seems to be fairly common.
Please let me know if you have questions.
June
June Pinnell-Stephens
Collection Services Manager
Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library
1215 Cowles St.
Fairbanks, AK 99701
907-459-1020
907-459-1024 fax
Received on Mon Jan 05 2004 - 10:11:59 EST