BYU

Harold B. Lee Library

Book Collecting Conference Only Weeks Away

Physically collecting “things” can have a positive or a negative spin to it (or a little of both).  Gathering and keeping every plastic milk carton lid, or keeping neatly stacked piles of junk mail, over decades, will likely scare your family and friends.

However, collecting with joy and careful thought, books and print culture, especially if you are collecting in a subject that delights you, and you have a long-term strategy, can be quite satisfying, even economically beneficial (mostly in the long-term).  Collectors shape their collections; “fine tune” the various parts and series (by trading up: buying better editions, sometimes first editions or author’s signed copies, etc.) Do you want to learn more about collecting books? Then come to the ADL Book Collecting Conference, coming up very soon on March 26-27, 2009 (click on the box at the top left of this screen for more details).

It is through these personal, loving efforts, that many of the world’s greatest libraries are built. After decades, or even whole life times, collectors or their families, eventually donate or sell their collections to libraries. As you can tell, libraries and collectors have a very strong connection; now add to this, devoted book trade people who help collectors, and you have a community and hobby that has a lasting significance. Come join the fun and the rich learning at the 6th annual A. Dean Larsen Book Collecting Conference at BYU, is month Thursday and Friday, March 26 and 27th.