Oolde raare bookes - Wat Doo?

[H-O-W-L]

Putting it in cod Dutch because it's funny and I figure it'll grab more attention.

I've had in my possession for a while, some semi-rare old books from the 1830s to the 1950s, mostly religious texts and illuminated editions. Is there any kind of library or service in the UK that would willingly take and conserve and/or digitize them? I don't think any of them are especially rare texts, but the printings themselves are semi-rare and not well found on auction sites on the internet, including an edition of Punch - Fun that I cannot find anywhere else on the webs.

Worth even seeking this out, or should I just keep hold of 'em?

[Steve Faeces]

Contact the British Library (or whatever the legal deposit library where you live is), in cod Dutch ideally, and they'll advise. They might want them for their collections or they (in my experience) will point you in the right direction. Digitisation is expensive in cost and time (where I work we don't digitise routinely mainly because we don't have a good enough scanner to do it or the money to get it done externally.) and unless they're texts that a significant amount of the research community are going to want to use it's not likely they'll digitise them necessarily but they'll keep them in good nick.

Although the British Library is still dealing with the cyber attack from last year so don't seem to be completely up and running at the moment.

You can check library holdings for the UK here if you want to see how widely held your items are. It's not comprehensive but it gives a good idea.

Or if you want to post title/date/edition/place of publication for what you have, I've worked in a few special collections libraries in London and I'm happy to suggest where you might want to try first that would cover the specialism your books fall under. 

[bgmnts]

Project Gutenberg does this, but I think it's more hassle than just donating it somewhere.

You'd probably have to see if the copyright still exists first I'd imagine.

[madhair60]

throw them into a roaring fucking fire

[GoblinAhFuckScary]

Although the British Library is still dealing with the cyber attack from last year so don't seem to be completely up and running at the moment. 

they're still fucked and it's making my job very annoying

[Famous Mortimer]

they're still fucked and it's making my job very annoying

But you are a professional library defrauder so it's perhaps to be expected

[GoblinAhFuckScary]

But you are a professional library defrauder so it's perhaps to be expected

going to make public all your sordid fucking loans

[H-O-W-L]

Contact the British Library (or whatever the legal deposit library where you live is), in cod Dutch ideally, and they'll advise. They might want them for their collections or they (in my experience) will point you in the right direction. Digitisation is expensive in cost and time (where I work we don't digitise routinely mainly because we don't have a good enough scanner to do it or the money to get it done externally.) and unless they're texts that a significant amount of the research community are going to want to use it's not likely they'll digitise them necessarily but they'll keep them in good nick.

Although the British Library is still dealing with the cyber attack from last year so don't seem to be completely up and running at the moment.

You can check library holdings for the UK here if you want to see how widely held your items are. It's not comprehensive but it gives a good idea.

Or if you want to post title/date/edition/place of publication for what you have, I've worked in a few special collections libraries in London and I'm happy to suggest where you might want to try first that would cover the specialism your books fall under. 

Aye thanks, I'll have to make a proper survey of them and list publishers and stuff. I don't like to do it without gloves on because of the age and frankly the mustiness of them. They're in alright condition, just battered. Belonged to a vicar/missionary iirc; a lot of writing in the margins of them, especially the New Testament in Modern Speech copy. Will post an update when I get time to do that.

[PlanktonSideburns]

What does a vicar write in the sidelines?

Where Herod is mentioned: hate this cunt

This bit in old testy about the crowned triple headed snake beast that rises from the sea: lul, wut?

Things of that nature?

[badaids]

Project Gutenberg does this, but I think it's more hassle than just donating it somewhere.

Great to see Steve has embarked on another successful career since his star waned.

[Ray Travez]

What does a vicar write in the sidelines?

Where Herod is mentioned: hate this cunt

This bit in old testy about the crowned triple headed snake beast that rises from the sea: lul, wut?

Things of that nature?

Can't believe it's been 2,000 years since them slags crucified our Lord it still freaks my nut out to this day

[GoblinAhFuckScary]

Can't believe it's been 2,000 years since them slags crucified our Lord it still freaks my nut out to this day

ayy

[lauraxsynthesis]

Got any copies of The Ingoldsby Legends? I've got 2 editions but want a proper old one.

[thenoise]

What does a vicar write in the sidelines?

Where Herod is mentioned: hate this cunt

This bit in old testy about the crowned triple headed snake beast that rises from the sea: lul, wut?

Things of that nature?

Mention this bit to Deidre, this'll shut the silly old bag up.

[H-O-W-L]

Got any copies of The Ingoldsby Legends? I've got 2 editions but want a proper old one.

Nah, sorry.