Elizabeth: 

You can consult with a carpet dealer or a gallery dealer in modern art. An auction house might help you get started. The library hopefully has a replacement valuation (and had it on a special schedule). They need the 2010 retail [replacement] value of the 1970's object...not its wholesale worth. The library should have done that before they went out for conservation. Hali magazine has auction values for carpets and textiles for a ball-park. 

Mary 

-----Original Message-----
From: Textile Conservators [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dr. Elizabeth A Richards
Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 2:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Shag Carpet circa 1970

I  finished cleaning/having cleaned two shag carpets for our Public 
Library. Then I redesigned the hanging system so the carpets would hang 
more evenly and would be more secure.  The carpets were used to hang on 
some empty walls partially to absorb sound in a big lobby on the bottom 
floor of the library.  Well someone stole one!  I could hardly believe 
it because firstly I didn't think the carpet was particularly attractive 
and secondly the wool carpert was so heavy that I couldn't lift it by 
myself.

Now I am trying to help the library get some idea of their worth.  I 
know what a contemporary replacement would cost but does anyone have an 
idea of how to determine a 1970 replacement cost. Someone gave me a 
suggestion of looking at Ryah (spelling ??) but I don't know the correct 
spelling.

At some time there was a label on the back of the carpet but the label 
was missing when I got it.

I don't have good pictures of the whole carpet because it was so large 
(2.26 m x 3.10 m) but I will attach the ones I have.  (I was going to go 
back to the library to take a final picture when the carpet was hung.)

In order not to make this message too large I will send a second message 
showing what the orange carpet looked like too, encase someone 
recognizes either of them.

Thanks for the help.

Elizabeth Richards