Rare Book Monthly

Articles - June - 2024 Issue

Cannabis in the Library? A Strange Twist to a New Library Story

The Ilsley Library (Ilsley Library photo).

The Ilsley Library (Ilsley Library photo).

These are tough times in the library world. Libraries and librarians have come under attack for the sin of offering books in their libraries. Some librarians have been threatened, libraries defunded, and in some communities, officials have determined it's better to shut the libraries down than allow them to stay open with books they personally don't like. Most of it seems to be about “controversial” topics like racial minorities and gay people. Go figure.

 

So here is some good news for people who prefer libraries and books to censorship and politicians. The people of Middlebury, Vermont, were dealing with a declining library structure. The Ilsley Public Library had become dated and no longer fully filled the community's needs. There arose a movement to update or replace it. A plan was made. They would keep the original 1924 building, remove a couple of later additions, and add a modern wing to the original building. The project would cost $17 million. Much of it could be raised through grants and gifts, but at least $4.5 million would come from property taxes. That would add roughly $120 to the tax bill of a house appraised for $300,000. According to Zillow, the average value of a home in Middlebury is $428,000, so that is not an insignificant amount of additional taxes the typical resident will have to pay.

 

Nonetheless, when the bond issue went up for a vote, the bond passed. No, “passed” is not the word. It was overwhelming, 5-1. The “yeses” garnered 83% of the vote. The people of Middlebury, the children in particular, will have their new library.

 

However, that still leaves the issue of the transition. This led to one of the more unusual stories in library science we've seen in awhile. Since this involves working on an existing structure, not a total replacement, there will be a period when the current library needs to shut down, but the new renovated one will not be finished. It is estimated that will take about 1 ½ years. What happens to library services in the meantime?

 

The major question, from what location can the library continue to operate, was quickly resolved with a generous offer from the National Bank of Middlebury. They have offered the library space in their building sufficient to continue operations. That will include access to the current most widely read books.

 

That still leaves the bulk of the collection. Another generous offer was made, but this is one that has left library officials torn. A company called Satori has offered the library 3,000 square feet of climate-controlled space free. How perfect is that? And it's not that the offer isn't appreciated, it is. Still... Satori is a cannabis producer. They produce some of the finest strains, or so they say. I can't say since I lack any experience with their product.

 

The issue is not with the morality of using cannabis. Hey, this Vermont. They are a laid back and tolerant people. Nor is the issue a concern with public health. They don't appear concerned. The issue is the smell. Storage of cannabis leaves its reminders. They are concerned if they leave the books there, when they come out, they will smell like cannabis. The kids won't mind, but maybe some of the older readers will object. It's unlikely it will make anyone high, but who knows, will it result in a group of book sniffers? They tested leaving a few books in the warehouse a couple of weeks. Some testers said they could detect an odor, others could not. A year and a half may have a greater impact. Satori is not going to try to remove the odor from their warehouse, but will allow the library to do so if it wishes. How to accomplish that is not known. There are some other maybes out there for an alternate storage location, but if nothing else suitable arises, the officials will have to confront a choice with few options. What will they do?

Rare Book Monthly

  • DOYLE
    Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
    July 23, 2025
    DOYLE, July 23: WALL, BERNHARDT. Greenwich Village. Types, Tenements & Temples. Estimate $300-500
    DOYLE, July 23: STOKES, I. N. PHELPS. The Iconography of Manhattan Island, 1498-1909. New York: Robert H. Dodd, 1915-28. Estimate: $3,000-5,000
    DOYLE, July 23: [AUTOGRAPH - US PRESIDENT]FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. A signed photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Estimate $500-800
    DOYLE, July 23: [ARION PRESS]. ABBOTT, EDWIN A. Flatland. A Romance of Many Dimensions. San Francisco, 1980. Estimate $2,000-3,000.
    DOYLE, July 23: TOLSTOY, LYOF N. and NATHAN HASKELL DOLE, translator. Anna Karénina ... in eight parts. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., [1886]. Estimate: $400-600
    DOYLE, July 23: ROWLING, J.K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. London: Bloomsbury, 2000. Estimate $1,200-1,800
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    Western Manuscripts and Miniatures
    July 8, 2025
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. FRANCESCO PETRARCH (b. Arezzo, 20 July 1304; d. Arqua Petrarca, 19 July 1374). $20,000-30,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF THE MASTER OF THE VITAE IMPERATORUM (active Milan, 1431-1459). $15,000-20,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF ATTAVANTE DEGLI ATTAVANTI (GABRIELLO DI VANTE) (active Florence, c. 1452-c. 1520/25). $15,000-20,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. FOLLOWER OF HERMAN SCHEERE (active London, c. 1405-1425). $15,000-20,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. An exceptionally rare, illuminated music leaf from a Mozarabic Antiphonal with sister leaves mostly in museum collections. $11,500-14,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. Exceptional leaf from a prestigious Antiphonary by a leading illuminator of the late Duecento. $11,500-14,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF THE MASTER OF MS REID 33 and SELWERD ABBEY SCRIPTORIUM (AGNES MARTINI?) (active The Netherlands, Groningen, c. 1468-1510). $10,000-15,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. Previously unknown illumination from one of the most renowned Gothic Choir Book sets of the Middle Ages. $6,000-8,000.
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    Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern
    Now through July 10, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Book of Hours by the Masters of Otto van Moerdrecht, Use of Sarum, in Latin, Southern Netherlands (Bruges), c.1450. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Albert Einstein. Autograph letter signed, to Attilio Palatino, on his research into General Relativity, 12 May 1929. £12,000 to £18,000.
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: John Gould. The Birds of Europe, [1832-] 1837, 5 volumes, contemporary half morocco, subscriber’s copy. £40,000 to £60,000.
    Sotheby’s
    Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern
    Now through July 10, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Ian Fleming. A collection of James Bond first editions, 8 volumes in all. £8,000 to £12,000.
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue. £50,000 to £70,000.
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: J.R.R. Tolkien. Autograph letter signed, to Amy Ronald, on Pauline Baynes's map of Middle Earth, 1970. £7,000 to £10,000.
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