Hi Folks There is nothing like a major clear out of either the archives or library stock, this has been done in the past many times here in Coventry, more so with the library and Local Studies collections, the whole collection of Coventry Council Minutes - Education Minutes - and accounts where cleared to make way for computers, we are talking about huge racks of documents which dated back to the early 1900's if not before. Where did they go, well they were not put on sale, they 'disappeared' it is my conclusion that the waste incinerator worked over time, and no one has ever in the past 7 years come forward to counter this. I have personally raised this issue at both public and council levels, recently as the new and very welcomed 'History centre' here in Coventry will soon be opened. BUT, the collections from both Local Studies - The Cathedral and the Archives, will be come together. This will show up a large number of duplicates of both films, books, and documents. But what will happen to them. When I asked about this, and explained I did not want to see them going the same way as the Council books i.e. to the tip and burnt, I was told " Oh no we now have to shred them" I hope the gentleman was joking ! It is not unknown for our 'keepers of documents' to have a clear out, they try to keep these very quiet as they cause a public out cry. So keep your eyes open, many of the items could well be ex archives / library, but could have been sold for pennies. John Russell 024 76306651 07753519820 www.covkid.org.uk www.virtualmuseum.co.uk