How many books can you buy with $8 million? A lot, but the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh didn’t notice any of their collection was gone until a 2017 appraisal showed that a few listed in the collection in a 1991 appraisal were no longer there. The books were kept in the library’s Oliver Special Collections Room. Archivist Gregory Priore had been manager of the Special Collections Room since 1992. He arranged appointments, granted access and supervised visits for scholars and others. Visitors had to store their personal items in a locker before entering the room.
It took only four days for the appraisers to notice a problem. The room was closed, the locks were changed and Priore was denied access. Several of the very rare books were traced to the Caliban Book Shop. Priore had been stealing the books and John Schulman, an owner of the book shop, had been selling them. The missing books were found online, in ads and in past auctions. Some illustrations, pictures and maps (known in the book world as “plates”) were removed and sold separately. Books worth over $1,150,000 have been recovered. One, a 1787 book signed by Thomas Jefferson, was being offered for sale for $95,000. But some are still missing, and the lost value of the library’s collection is estimated at more than $8 million, one of the largest book thefts ever. The two men are scheduled for trial, with hearings starting in August. They are charged with 30 crimes including theft, library theft, conspiracy, forgery, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief, and deceptive and fraudulent business practices.
This is unfortunate that one trusted and in charge becomes corrupt. However, where money/value is part of the plan, nothing can be left to chance. In today’s world of micro-chips the museum should have installed devices much the same as dept stores where nothing can leave undetected.
I worked in a museum library for about 15 years. There were many one-of-a-kind items that could never be replaced. I am sad that these valuable books were stolen, especially by the person who was supposed to care for them. However, I also know that appraisals are extremely expensive. If the museum library does not have the finances to do a more frequent appraisal, something like this theft could happen.
This is just like episodes of Matlock and Perry Mason.
Stunning corruption! Do we really live in a world where librarians feel free to steal the books they were hired to protect and treasure?!
While it is extremely disappointing that this theft happened, I do have to also blame Carnegie Library. 26 years between an accurate appraisal? Didn’t anyone supervise the manager and take a spot inventory EVERY year? So sloppy! The people who supervised Gregory Priore should at the least be fired for their handling of this precious resource.