Research libraries aren't exactly rich. Their regular budget barely covers employees, maintenance, subscriptions, and new releases, so they don't tend to splurg

Research libraries aren't exactly rich. Their regular budget barely covers employees, maintenance, subscriptions, and new releases, so they don't tend to splurge on such "collectibles". It's also quite common for individuals' archives to be donated to libraries, since they provide the service of maintaining it and allowing public access. Plus, they are non-profits. So it's not completely unlike taking your dog to an animal shelter and expecting money. Maybe not quite as extreme, and not morally wrong or anything, but probably just unusual, and it may not even have registered with the person that they are negotiating.