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Historical Society Auctions Excess RelicsTo Upgrade, Repair And RestoreLong Island Historical Society Director Russell Bastedo pores over old volumes of theBrooklyn Eagle awaiting shipment to L.I.U. for storage. (Occhiogrosso Photo)BY ELIZABETH ALVAREZMost everyone has been faced with the problem of what to discard when excessive clutter hinders access to an attic, basement or closet, but few of us have ever attempted to clean out an attic the size of a gymnasium, where the items considered for disposal are not your everyday mementos, but historic relics from thi 18ih century.Russell Bastedo, Director and three staff member:, of the Long Island Historic Socien. noused in the four story landmark euilding on Pierrcpont Street it Brooklyn Heights, have unde: ;aken this massive but essentia! task.%u201c It%u2019s sort of like strip mining%u2019%u2019 Bastedo said, referring to stacks of uncatalogued books that line the oak bookcases of the balcony, where until a few months ago, books obstructed the view of the semicircled stain glass windows of the reading room. In addition, tons of newspapers in the attic caused a weight problem which threatened structural damage to the building. The attic also houses thousands of books, and a miscellaneous assortment of objects including portraits, spinning wheels, looms, flags from 1881, A Dutch doll from the 1880%u2019s, and a sword collection.Where did it all come from? According to Bastedo, who became director in September 1978, the collection consists of items donated to the society as far back as the 1880%u2019s when the society originated, and it had not been sorted or catalogued since 1893, because of limited staff and funds.Through the process of deaccessioning, the institute hopes to get rid of books and objects that are not truly relevant to the Society and channel the funds acquired into completing the\expanding the collections that are most oertinent.WHAT SHOULD GODetermining what to get rid of is a difficult and time-consumingaffair. A trustee from the Long Island Historic Society, who is also a historian in the area, two librarians and Bastedo, form an assembly line, and scan each book to determine if it is relevant to the collection. If even one of them considers the book worthwhile to hold onto for whatever reason, the book remains. Those chosen for deaccessioning must then be approved by a library committee.Despite this tedious process, over 5,000 books out of the total collection of about 175,000 have been disposed of. First to go are any duplicates. The society has also acquired a large number of foreign travel books written by 19th century women. Although the books are of value and interest they are not of particular concern to the Society, where the focus lies on the history of Brooklyn and LongIsland.An excess of religious books, which Bastedo feels would be better utilized in a seminary, are also being disposed of, as well as art and antique books, published in the early 1900%u2019s which have been replaced by newer and better ones.THE BROOKLYN EAGLE MOVETo date, over 25,000 pounds of newspapers, previously microfilmed, have been removed. Huge stacks of crumbling editions of the Brooklyn Eagle await shipment to Long Island University where they will be stored, on long term loan, in an air-conditioned storage area which will slow down deterioration.%u201cThe desire to acquire things is a lot stronger than the desire to let things go,%u201d Bastedo remarked, referring to the attitudes among the Historic Society staff. It is also why overaccumulation is a problemcommon to most museums and institutions. %u2018%u2018The weeding out should be done annually or at least every two years%u201d Bastedo recommended.Public auctions have been the main source for disposal, since large quantities can be sold frequently to book dealers. The auctions provide an equitable way for the public to have the opportunity to acquire items and relieves the institute of the difficulty in determining what to charge. A few books and items are being sold in the %u201c Seated Indian Gift Shop%u201d on the first floor of the Long Island Historic Society.UPGRADE COLLECTIONFunds generated from the deaccessioning will be used to upgrade the collection according to Bastedo. %u201c It will be generated back intoicp