UK Librarian, Caught on eBay, Admits Major Book Thefts

-- Library Journal, 8/4/2006

In March, a bookseller contacted the City Council of Manchester, UK, with some startling information: books and manuscripts from the Central Library were being sold on eBay. Police traced the sales to a librarian, Norman Buckley, and recovered more than 400 items, including a 16th-century edition of the works of Geoffrey Chaucer. He had so far taken in £11,000 ($14,100) from the sales, but the total value of his theft was estimated at £250,000 ($470,000). After a disciplinary hearing, Buckley was fired. He then pleaded guilty to ten counts of theft. He faces up to six months in prison for each count. He will be sentenced on August 25.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Buckley told police that he had started to steal after breaking up with his long-term girlfriend. Council press officer Margaret Blackburn told LJ that the city began an immediate review of security, including increased restrictions on access to the rare books and manuscripts collections. "A review of the collections is to be undertaken and an additional secure area has been prepared for any items considered valuable which are currently housed on closed access stacks," she said. As part of the Manchester Central Library building restoration project, the introduction of RFID and the introduction of additional security gates will also enhance security.