Rationale:
In accordance with the recommendations set by the American Library Association (ALA), the Hunter College Libraries affirm that the continual reappraisal of library materials is a crucial component of collection management. Over time, resources can become damaged, worn, dated, and may no longer suit the needs of the Hunter College community. Maintaining a well-proportioned collection allows space for newly acquired materials and supports the general health, care, and growth of the collection. The Hunter College Libraries reserve the right to deaccession materials when deemed appropriate.
Reporting Structure:
Charging the Libraries staff with collection rightsizing projects and setting project objectives is under the purview of the Dean of Libraries. Projects may also be undertaken jointly with the Collection Curation & Development Committee. Decisions regarding specific titles are delegated to liaison librarians, who may also consult with the Collections Librarian, Head of Technical Services, or Dean of Libraries.
Staff Expectations:
Annual collection assessment and deaccessioning are expected of all librarians with collection development responsibilities. Additional library staff members may also be assigned to support these activities. Participation in rightsizing projects is balanced with the day-to-day responsibilities of individual personnel. Concentrated efforts may be required during the summer months, as well as annual recesses when classes are not in session. Library leadership will announce major projects with advanced notice for personnel to incorporate them into workload planning. Criteria for deaccessioning and retention:
Decisions regarding the withdrawal of specific items are made in accordance with the current version of the Hunter College Libraries’ Collections Policy. All titles (the word “title” refers to each individual item) withdrawn from the collections are removed from the Libraries’ online catalog. When reappraised, items are subject to one or more of the following considerations related to use, relevance, currency, condition, and content:
- Whether the title supports Hunter College’s curricula and research needs
- The importance of the work for the discipline
- Historical and anticipated circulation or use
- Availability through consortia, inter-library loan, and open-access platforms
- Duplication within the Hunter College Libraries’ collection
- Whether the title is up-to-date and reflects current information and accreditation standards, if applicable
- Physical damage without the possibility of repair
- Replacement cost and availability
- For superseded textbooks, currency and anticipated use are the chief considerations with exceptions for titles that are standards or classics in a discipline, or otherwise part of a historical or special collection
Approved and adopted by the Hunter College Libraries Executive Policy Committee in May 2026.