On April 8th library workers at the Boston Public Library discovered that a valuable piece of artwork was missing. The piece was an Adam and Eve engraving by the great Albrecht Dürer and is currently valued at over $600,000. Following the discovery, the library launched a search to see if the print had been misfiled.

On April 15th the staff discovered that another piece of art had disappeared. This piece was an etching of a Rembrandt self-portrait and is valued at over $20,000. The staff then notified both the Boston Police Commissioner and Mayor.

Both pieces of artwork were stored in a print room that is closed to the public. In order to view the art, patrons must complete a form with their personal information. Roughly 10 to 20 staff members are authorized to transport the art to a reading room for viewing.

Amy Ryan, the library president, confirmed that the library staff is now working closely with the police and are also conducting an audit of the library’s piece print collection, which consists of over 200,000 pieces. The library staff admitted that there is a possibility that more pieces are missing and that thefts occurred over a year ago.

The Boston Police are currently considering the possibility of an inside job. One employee has even been placed on paid administrative leave. Mayor Martin J. Walsh said that he was alarmed the library staff did not reach out to the police immediately and that the theft went unnoticed for so long. During a telephone interview Walsh declared, “We can’t have valuable treasures of the city of Boston disappearing.”