Sale of Warner Collection

* Re “Hawking Hollywood History,” May 1.

It was with great sadness and alarm that I read in your pages of the impending sale of the Warner Research Collection. (Why was this item in your Valley Section instead of Calendar?)

As a public librarian, I am aware of the lack of civic funds for the care of our collections. While shocked by Burbank’s decision to sell their research treasure (which, I understand, was a gift), I am not surprised by their need for cash to support their public library system. Yet the decision to dump a viable and financially functional piece of our cultural heritage is puzzling, isn’t it?

Perhaps, if Burbank must sell its Warner Research Collection, and if it wants to sell the collection as a whole so that it will continue to be a useful reference tool, then it needs to change its marketing strategy.

Instead of spinning its wheels looking for one generous investor, why not seek out combined support from a number of industry-based companies, each of which could donate a specified amount to an existing research or reference institution, for the sole purpose of using all the donations to purchase the Warner Research Collection?

That way, each donating source could be asked for less money, the collection would be maintained by an existing reference center, Burbank would get its money and researchers could maintain their level of access to this vital resource.

EDGAR BULLINGTON

Duarte