In capitulation to advancing age, my wife and I recently seriously
downsized, sold all our instruments and sold our home.  Our instruments
went to other collectors.  My personal library I donated to a local
chamber music society, but only after scanning most of it for AMICA's
on-line research library.

Over the years, like many collectors, I acquired my share of original
literature.  Knowing the pitfalls of donating to an institution that
might well let it slip into a black hole, I scanned most of it for
AMICA before donating.

Most institutions really are a good place for donating a collection of
original literature, as they excel at care and protection.  Difficulties
emerge with access, which typically means a personal visit to a physical
archive, leave with them a list of what you want photocopied and come
back a few days later for pickup.

Typically photocopies are priced at 25 cents each.  However, if you
want digitized copies, price can escalate dramatically to as high as
$10 per page.  And upon pickup, you may be asked to sign an affidavit
to the effect that you promise the material you are receiving will not
appear in a publication nor on a web-site, kinda defeating the whole
concept of research.

If by chance you have literature of interest, be it original or
photocopies, please arrange to loan to MMD or your favorite association,
or scan it for them before disposal.  Above all, absolutely do not
dispose of these items into BlueBox recycling, upon which they are lost
forever.  They do have value, much more in content than in physical
form.

The critical ingredient is digitizing so that access may be facilitated
from anywhere in the world, through the magic and power of the Internet.

Regards,

Terry Smythe
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada