[MSN] U.K. OUTRAGE AS HERITAGE IS DUMPED IN A SKIP. Reference library material was marked for disposal with a skull and crossbones.

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OUTRAGE AS HERITAGE IS DUMPED IN A SKIP

Reference library material was marked for disposal with a skull and
crossbones

Decades of Keighley's heritage have been dumped in a skip.

Books and papers, from Keighley's Reference Library, have either been sent
for recycling or sold to book dealers.

Material - some of it thought to have been donated over the years by members
of the public - was even marked for disposal with a skull and crossbones.

This week local historian Ian Dewhirst, who worked in the reference library
for 25 years, said: "It's a bit like the Nazis burning books, quite frankly.
It's a total scandal."

The alarm was raised by Keighley town councillor Siobhan Alderson, who told
a council meeting that library staff reported the material was thrown into a
recycling skip at Bradford Central Library last month.

The books and archives were being moved as part of a £1.1 million
refurbishment of the world famous library in North Street.

It was the first in the country to be funded by Scots-born philanthropist
Andrew Carnegie, in 1904.

Cllr Alderson said when she visited Keighley Library last month, she saw
material earmarked for disposal with skull and crossbones stickers.

She said these included bound volumes of Punch magazine and an original
1830s John Brown Bible, which she recovered.

"The people of Keighley have a right to know what they have lost access to
and what's been chucked out," she said.

"I was told the most valuable books sold to dealers had their details
recorded, but many books did not because they were not even catalogued yet'.

"This is outrageous - books that no one knows about and never did, sold or
recycled.

She said Bradford should provide a list of the items disposed of, an idea of
their value and an explanation of how it decided what deserved to be
destroyed.

The reference library is on the first floor of Keighley Library, in North
Street.

The section is managed by Bradford Council's Libraries, Archives and
Information service.

Its head, Ian Watson, said the books were removed as part of the
refurbishment programme. The renovation is due to start next month.

Mr Watson, said: "Not every book has a financial or historical value. Public
libraries have to balance getting new stock with the removal of unnecessary
old stock."

He confirmed that some "duplicated and non-relevant" books had been sold to
book dealers and that others had been sent for recycling.

He said some items that had been kept would not be available to the public
until later this year, due to the refurbishment.

He said: "We will ensure that well-used family and local history material
can still be viewed at Bradford Central Library."

Mr Dewhirst added: "I know the stock answer would be that nobody ever reads
these things. But they are read by people who are studying and need
information. It's no use saying that everything is on the Internet."

A letter drafted by Keighley Town Council, protesting about the loss of the
books, has been sent to Bradford Council leader Cllr Kris Hopkins and the
city's executive member for culture Cllr Anne Hawkesworth.

The town council is demanding an itemised list and details of the value of
the books and maps.

The letter says: "It is the opinion of members that such items are part of
the heritage of this town and they are extremely angry and upset by the way
in which such historic artifacts appear to have been summarily disposed of."

Susan Daynes, the secretary of Keighley's Family History Society, said:
"Like everybody I'm absolutely astounded by this. I'm sure the Keighley
Library staff would not have just let this happen but it must have been out
of their hands."

Mr Watson said the reference library would be re-opened as a heritage
centre. He said: "All stock is being thoroughly checked and evaluated by
librarians and local studies staff.

"We look at whether there is similar material elsewhere in the collection,
if it is linked to the history of the town or its people and, with modern
day stock, whether it is up to date".

He said the library's Brigg collection - a selection of books and documents
donated by one of Keighley's most prominent 19th century families - had not
been sold off and was safely in storage.

A Bradford Council spokeswoman said the reference library's contents were
owned by the district council.

Haworth resident and former policeman Jens Hislop said if it could be proved
in court that books had been taken away, those responsible should be
prosecuted for theft.

Cowling resident Joan Tindale, a member of the Cowling Moonrakers History
group, said her village had given historic documents and artefacts to the
reference library for safekeeping.

She said she now feared some of this heritage could have been lost in the
clear out.

8:16am today

By Miran Rahman

http://www.thisisbradford.co.uk/