Thomas G. Carpenter Library Collection Development Policy

The deselection of materials from the collection (sometimes referred to as “weeding”), is an integral process for ensuring the relevance, currency, and accessibility of the library’s collections and supports the curriculum and research needs of UNF students, faculty and staff. Deselection applies to physical materials such as books, journals, and audiovisual resources, as well as electronic resources.

Rationale for Deselection
Deselection serves several important purposes, including:

• Maintaining Collection Relevance: Removing outdated, inaccurate, or superseded materials ensures the collection reflects current scholarship and academic needs.
• Optimizing Space: Creating space for new acquisitions, utilizing limited shelving more effectively, and maximizing space for student use ensures the library remains responsive to evolving needs.
• Enhancing Accessibility: Reducing clutter in the collection makes it easier for users to find and access high-quality, relevant resources.
• Budget Management: By removing underutilized or redundant resources, the library can better allocate funding toward acquiring new materials and maintaining essential subscriptions.

Criteria for Deselection
The library uses a set of criteria to evaluate items for deselection. These may include:

• Relevance: Items no longer aligned with the curriculum, research needs, or institutional mission.
• Usage: Materials with low or no usage over an extended period, as determined by circulation or access data.
• Physical Condition: Items that are damaged, missing pages, or otherwise unusable.
• Duplication: Multiple copies or redundant holdings that exceed user demand.
• Currency: Outdated editions or materials containing obsolete information, especially in rapidly evolving fields like technology, medicine, or law.
• Availability Elsewhere: Items that are readily available in other formats (e.g., digital) or through interlibrary loan.

If worn or damaged materials cannot be repaired, the library will determine whether the item should be replaced, and if so, the best method of replacement. This may include the acquisition of an alternate/later edition or a different format.

Removal of Deselected Materials
Disposition of items slated for removal from the collections will be processed according to State of Florida property regulations under advisement of the UNF Controller’s Office procedures. For more information, please see our Guidelines on Redistribution of Deselected Materials.

By maintaining an ongoing deselection process, the library ensures its resources remain dynamic, relevant, and supportive of the university’s academic mission. If you have further questions, please contact Jennifer Murray, Interim Dean.