The Deselection and Discarding Practices of Australian Public Libraries.
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| Title: | The Deselection and Discarding Practices of Australian Public Libraries. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Hider, Philip1 (AUTHOR) phider@csu.edu.au |
| Source: | Journal of the Australian Library & Information Association. Jun2026, Vol. 75 Issue 2, p297-320. 24p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Deselection of library materials, *Public libraries, Collection management (Libraries), Library outreach programs |
| Abstract: | An online survey was distributed to Australian public libraries to investigate their current deaccessioning practices: 126 responded, representing 35.7% of libraries. Most libraries deselected books based on their condition, age, and (lack of) circulation, but while some libraries weeded systematically, others' deaccessioning was more ad hoc. Libraries also differed in the amount of weeding they undertook, due to different spatial and budgetary constraints, and the extent to which they prioritised currency and popularity over collection breadth. The ways libraries discarded weeded book stock likewise varied, although recycling, donating and selling, in some form or other, were all carried out by over half the libraries. Books were donated to welfare and social services, other libraries, charities, and other community groups, while book sale events were held in about a third of the libraries, typically about twice a year. The disposing of books could be challenging and time-consuming, however, and some respondents called for more collective solutions. 'Rehoming' was the generally preferred scenario, and can be viewed, especially when the books end up with non-users, as another form of outreach. The merits and drawbacks of the various approaches to deselection and disposal, as noted by respondents, are detailed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of the Australian Library & Information Association is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 194299982 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: The Deselection and Discarding Practices of Australian Public Libraries. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hider%2C+Philip%22">Hider, Philip</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> phider@csu.edu.au</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+the+Australian+Library+%26+Information+Association%22">Journal of the Australian Library & Information Association</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 75 Issue 2, p297-320. 24p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Deselection+of+library+materials%22">Deselection of library materials</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+libraries%22">Public libraries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Collection+management+%28Libraries%29%22">Collection management (Libraries)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Library+outreach+programs%22">Library outreach programs</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: An online survey was distributed to Australian public libraries to investigate their current deaccessioning practices: 126 responded, representing 35.7% of libraries. Most libraries deselected books based on their condition, age, and (lack of) circulation, but while some libraries weeded systematically, others' deaccessioning was more ad hoc. Libraries also differed in the amount of weeding they undertook, due to different spatial and budgetary constraints, and the extent to which they prioritised currency and popularity over collection breadth. The ways libraries discarded weeded book stock likewise varied, although recycling, donating and selling, in some form or other, were all carried out by over half the libraries. Books were donated to welfare and social services, other libraries, charities, and other community groups, while book sale events were held in about a third of the libraries, typically about twice a year. The disposing of books could be challenging and time-consuming, however, and some respondents called for more collective solutions. 'Rehoming' was the generally preferred scenario, and can be viewed, especially when the books end up with non-users, as another form of outreach. The merits and drawbacks of the various approaches to deselection and disposal, as noted by respondents, are detailed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of the Australian Library & Information Association is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1080/24750158.2026.2631306 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 24 StartPage: 297 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Deselection of library materials Type: general – SubjectFull: Public libraries Type: general – SubjectFull: Collection management (Libraries) Type: general – SubjectFull: Library outreach programs Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: The Deselection and Discarding Practices of Australian Public Libraries. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hider, Philip IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 06 Text: Jun2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 24750158 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 75 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of the Australian Library & Information Association Type: main |
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