[Publib] Prices4antiques.com

[Mary Wilkes Towner]

>===== Original Message From "Sonya Dintaman" <SonyaD at steuben.lib.in.us> =====
>A patron brought in a clipping from Antique Week that discussed
>www.prices4antiques.com.  The article helpfully pointed out that readers
>may be able to access the database at their local library.  Has anyone
>subscribed to this database?  Would it be something that would replace
>or supplement print price guides?

Hi!  We had a preview of this database and I liked it.  The price is very 
reasonable, covers all workstations in a building, and Internet access can 
also be available.  The company is very good about setting up previews.

However, it just covers items that have come up at auction, so there are gaps 
in the database.  While I found most of the items I searched for, my 
colleagues didn't have good luck.  So, we wound up not subscribing.  What I 
did like about p4a was that the prices were authoritative--items actually sold 
at auction--the color pictures are nice, and there are hotlinks back to the 
auction houses themselves.

I think this would function best as a supplement to print guides, especially 
in public libraries where most people ask about collectibles that don't always 
come up for auction  (e.g. paintings of Elvis on velvet).  And, as a 
supplement to searching eBay.

Mary Towner

Mary Wilkes Towner        mtowne at lincolntrail.info
Adult Services Librarian  phone: (217) 367-4405
The Urbana Free Library   FAX:   (217) 367-4061
210 W. Green St.            http://urbanafreelibrary.org/
Urbana, IL  61801-5326