The Albemarle
Regional Library Board of Trustees, as the governing agency, establishes
surplus policies as pertains to its member libraries. Unless
otherwise adopted, the ARL Board of Trustees designates the Regional Director
to oversee the disposition of all surplus materials. For
the purpose of this policy, materials are not limited to print and audiovisual
materials, but include technology components, furniture, etc., including fixed
assets whose purchase price may have exceeded $2,500.
Materials are the
property of the Albemarle Regional Library. All
reasonable efforts to place items no longer needed in one branch in another
branch will be made prior to the decision to declare
them surplus.
Book withdrawal is an important aspect of collection development. When library books lose the value for which they were
originally selected, they should be withdrawn so that the collection remains
vital and useful. The withdrawal of books is based on the following guidelines:
1. To remove physically worn out or damaged volumes from the library.
2. To eliminate books containing obsolete
information.
3. To remove duplicate copies of titles that
have waned in popularity, eliminating those most physically damaged or worn.
4. In part, decisions will be made based on acceptable professional
practices, such as those described in the CREW method and the professional
judgment of the Library Director or designated staff. The
library's rule of thumb on most materials is that if it has not been checked
out in five years it may be discarded. Points to
consider include the current popularity of the author and the historical and
literary significance of the material in question. When
necessary, local specialists may be consulted to
determine the continued relevance and reliability of materials.
Disposition of Withdrawn Materials:
All materials withdrawn from the
collection should be stamped as "discarded"
or "withdrawn.
Recommended disposition of discarded materials include but are not
limited to: Book sales; schools, daycares, community
non-profit organizations; recycle; landfill as last resort.
Adopted April 29, 2009 by the Albemarle Regional Library Board of
Trustees