2018 Charleston Library Conference

Academic libraries are increasingly emphasizing spaces that support integrated learning experiences and enhanced patron study areas. Designing and creating these spaces significantly impacts their print collections and library leaders need context to inform the full range of collection management decisions: retention, storage, withdrawal, sharing, and digitization.

During this session, presenters will introduce factors impacting the analysis and assessment of collections when libraries are required to reduce those collections. They will share their experiences in managing their collections by outlining a plan to systematically weed the collections, the tools used to assess the collection, including commercial and home-grown approaches, criteria used to review the collections, and the options subject librarians have to discard, place items in storage, or participate in a shared print group. They will also discuss options provided to university faculty to virtually or physically review materials proposed for deselection and procedures used for staging and handling the large quantity of items being evaluated.

Attendees will learn how to evaluate their collections within the context of available space, user needs, and resource rarity on a global scale. They will also hear about common barriers to deselection and shared print projects and will receive best practices to overcome these issues.