Ephemera and local studies Available to Purchase

ONE OF the most fallacious arguments in local history librarianship is the suggestion that ‘To start a local collection costs nothing’. It costs staff time, energy, thought, equipment, training, and the materials—book and non‐book—which comprise the collection. Even if items are donated or collected free of charge there is a cost in storing and housing, and it would be naive to think otherwise. And worse, the public—ever ready to make a quick buck—have been saturated with propaganda about ‘antique’ values, and every day that passes makes ‘free’ donations unlikely; it is not enough to appeal to local patriotism any more, and palms have to be crossed with silver (more likely notes—strictly cash!). Beware rapacious postcard salesmen. However, after that bout of cynical—but accurate—perception that everything in librarianship has to be bought and paid for in ratepayers' cash, it is possible to say that most local ephemera can be had for nothing, as distinct from staff, processing and storage costs.