Why are we deselecting?
Deselection of library materials is a constant process to make space for new items. These special projects require additional work and coordination. Deselection is a necessary and on-going step in collection development because the Libraries does not have the capacity to serve as a repository for everything. The collection must reflect core research areas and current curricular needs.
What’s happening with the deselected books?
The books that are withdrawn from our library collections are University property and must be disposed of properly. Our first option is to support collective archiving of materials, such as the BTAA Shared Print Repository. For many of the withdrawn books, we have developed a partnership with Better World Books, which funds literacy and education initiatives around the world. Another partnership is the Internet Archive which will digitize some of the selected materials and then make it available to the public free of charge. We strive for sustainable and financially responsible practices, so final decisions are based on multiple factors. Some withdrawn books are in poor condition or do not meet donation criteria, and these will be recycled as paper.
What are our criteria for deselection?
Our first criteria for deselection are duplicate materials, since we can easily share books among Penn State's many campuses. Next, low use and older materials are then identified as potential candidates for deselection. With specific criteria such as age of materials and usage, each subject has unique use patterns that our subject specialist librarians have tracked over time.
What is the timeline for deselection?
Deselection is an ongoing and necessary process to maintain collections that are relevant to users and their evolving needs.
Who is involved in the deselection process?
A project of this size involves many library employees across the University Libraries. In no particular order, here are some the people involved: the STEM department, Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences and Education subject librarians, Subject Libraries Support Staff, and Common Services.
Who has input on the deselection process?
Our librarians communicate with relevant University stakeholders and invite feedback from library users.
Who can I contact to provide input or ask additional questions?
If you want to find out more about the deselection criteria and decisions, please contact your subject librarian. For questions on overall projects, you can contact the project leads John Meier, Head of STEM for Outreach and Engagement and Betsaida Reyes, Head of Humanities and Social Sciences.