Deaccessioning or ‘weeding’ materials from the library is essential for scholarly research and maintenance of a relevant and useful collection. The University Librarian and the Technical Services & E-Resources Librarian are responsible for deaccessioning materials from the collection and the Technical Services unit in the library administers the deaccessioning process of print and electronic materials. Titles selected to be deaccessioned from the collection will be shared with the selectors mentioned above. Deaccessioning print and electronic materials is conducted on an ongoing basis. Faculty members may be consulted when deaccessioning materials from the library.
Each title under consideration for deaccession will be evaluated by each factor:
• Item is superseded with a newer edition
• Item contains inaccurate information
• Item is out-of-date
• Usage statistics indicate item has not been used in 10 years
• The library has duplicate copies or multiple copies exist in I-Share
• Item is in poor condition
• Item may be replaced with a cost-effective electronic copy or an e-copy that offers greater access than a single print copy or single use copy
• Item is not relevant to the university’s mission, curriculum, coursework, research, or
general interest
• For electronic materials, links to the title or within the title are no longer active
Deaccessioned materials may be removed from the library in the following ways:
• Donate to another nonprofit organization, such as Better World Books, or another library
• Send materials for preservation to the University of Illinois in their “last title” program
• Sell to book resellers
• Discard
