Recently I went to my local public library to check out "Treasures of
Mechanical Music" by Art Reblitz and Q. David Bowers, along with other
mechanical music books.  When I checked the library's computer to look
up the catalog number, the listing wasn't there.  I then looked up
Harvey Roehl's "Player Piano Treasury."  Again no luck.

These two books, along with other mechanical music books, had been part
of the library's collection for years, and I had checked them out
myself several times.  When I made inquiries of the library staff, I
eventually learned that these books and the others had been withdrawn
from the library during their routine culling of books two months ago!
They had been deemed as too worn and/or no longer relevant.

I don't need to tell you how special these two books are.  The Reblitz
and Bowers book has an asking price of around $300 on the used book
market.  The Harvey Roehl book was a signed copy making it even more
special.

I told the librarian that I would gladly purchase these withdrawn books
and any others like them, if they would quote me a price.  She didn't
give me much hope for the books still being at the library in their
sale area, but she promised to look.  Her search came back with
negative results.  All those mechanical music books have either gone to
a book recycler/book reseller or--even worse--in the trash for being
"too worn."

I have worked in a library twice myself.  So I understand the need for
libraries to occasionally weed out their collections.  But, it bothers
me that these books were not researched more before the decision was
made to withdraw them and that local patrons were not given the
opportunity to purchase them first.  Very sad indeed.

Joyce Brite