Library resources undergo routine evaluation to determine whether de-selection is appropriate. Major selection/de-selection projects are staggered. Withdrawing de-selected materials allows Hutchins Library to keep its collection current and supportive of Berea College’s curricular and educational goals.
The decision to de-select materials is based on several factors, including the following:
- Obsolete content or format
- Poor physical condition
- Multiple copies of the same item in the collection
- Better coverage of the subject by other materials in the collection
- Economic feasibility
- Low usage
- Space limitations
- Electronic access
- Superceded by online version
Teaching faculty and library staff members identify materials to be de-selected in their appropriate subject areas. The library staff member identifying materials that are damaged beyond repair consults with liaisons in the appropriate subject area to decide whether the items should be replaced. The library staff is solely responsible for culling the general and non-curricular areas such as Fiction, Popular Reading, Reference, Children’s, and Special Collections.
