Data-driven deselection for monographs: A rules-based approach to weeding, storage, and shared print decisions

Abstract

The value of local print book collections is changing. Even as stacks fill and library traffic grows, circulation continues to decline. Across the 'collective collection', millions of unused books occupy prime central campus space. Meanwhile, users want more collaborative study space and online resources. Libraries want room for information commons, teaching and learning centers and cafes. Done properly, removing unused books can free space for these and other purposes, with little impact on users. Many low-use titles are securely archived, accessible digitally, and widely held in print. Surplus copies can be removed without endangering the scholarly record. But identifying candidates for deselection is time-consuming. Batch-oriented tools that incorporate both archival and service values are needed. This article describes the characteristics of a decision-support system that assembles deselection metadata and enables library-defined rules to generate lists of titles eligible for withdrawal, storage, or inclusion in shared print programs. © Rick Lugg.