The collection undergoes ongoing review and weeding to keep all areas attractive and accessible to Library users, to maintain accuracy, relevance and timeliness of materials, to ensure compliance with the Collection Development Policy, and to remain within space limitations.
Materials are removed from the collection when:
- They are no longer within the scope of the Collection Development Policy.
- They have zero or low circulation or use within an appropriate time period for the collection under review.
- They contain obsolete information, theories or concepts that are not useful for historic reference.
- There are duplicate copies, unless multiple copies are justified by customer demand.
- Newer editions are acquired, unless older editions contain valuable information not found in later editions.
- They are in poor physical condition, unless they cannot be replaced and are considered essential to the collection.
Materials which are weeded from the collection are disposed of in one of the following ways:
- For reference items that still have value to other libraries, by circulating a list of discarded titles so that other libraries may request them.
- For items that may have monetary value, by selling them directly or through the Friends of the Monterey Public Library to benefit Library collections and services.
- For items that are not of interest to other libraries and do not have resale value, by donating them to an appropriate nonprofit organization approved by the Library Director.
- For items that are not of interest to other libraries, do not have resale value, and are not of interest to any appropriate nonprofit organization, by recycling or discarding them.
- For special items or collections which have significant monetary value, by selling them by sealed bid, through book dealers, or through consignment houses.
Materials in areas such as law and medicine are reviewed frequently and removed if they contain outdated or incorrect information. Removed materials in these areas are recycled or discarded rather than donated or sold.
If an item is determined to be a classic and needed to meet collection development goals, the item will be retained or replaced. A classic is defined as a work of enduring significance, interest and appeal. Classics are identified based on the standards of their own cultural tradition and genre and on the long-term needs of the Library community. Selectors determine which titles should be considered classics and remain in the collection despite their age, physical condition or limited circulation. In evaluating a title, the selector will:
- Check the title's status as a classic using publications such as Public Library Catalog, Children's Catalog and Fiction Catalog as well as other appropriate lists and reference sources.
- Consider collection development goals. While some areas of the collection are developed to the research level and include most classic materials, other areas are maintained at a basic level and may only include a few classics.
Rebinding, repair or replacement is considered for those materials in poor physical condition which are unsuitable for withdrawal. Criteria for rebinding, repair or replacement are:
- Customer or community demand for a particular title or subject.
- Lack of availability of more current or accurate sources.
- Lack of duplication of the particular title or subject in other materials in the collection.
- Ability of staff or vendors to complete needed repairs.
