Withdrawal and Transfer Policy for the General Collections, University of Maryland Libraries

Maintaining the quality and usefulness of the collections is a central goal of the Libraries. The Libraries decides which materials are accurate, current, and relevant, and which should be withdrawn or transferred. The withdrawal of unwanted items and the storage of infrequently used items will relieve overcrowded shelves, increase ease of access and improve the efficiency of retrieving materials.

Library materials may be considered for removal or relocation from the general collections if they fall within one or more of these categories:

•multiple copies available (3 or more copies, especially with low aggregate circulation)

•superseded editions, provided that newer editions incorporate important information from earlier editions

•lack of circulation (see http://www.lib.umd.edu/CLMD/ossguidelines.html)

•unusable formats

•poor physical condition, or damaged beyond usefulness

•lacking research value

•ephemeral materials that are not easily accessed or bound

•textbooks or test preparation books (generally not to be included in the collection)

•paper copy or bound periodicals for which there is a viable online alternative (see Policy on Collection only Electronic Versions of Journals), or which are covered by a more durable format (e.g., microfilm or CD-ROM), or for which the UM Libraries has cooperative collection agreements.

CMT, September 2009