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Maintaining book collections



Dear Colleagues,

Over the years, the archives in my academic library has been used as a
"dumping ground" for books that our librarians felt should not be in
circulation.  The criteria for placing books in Special Collections is
vague, but includes factors like "irreplaceable or scarce books," "books
highly susceptible to theft," "signed books," and "materials of unusual size
and shape."  The end result is an eclectic collection that is
mostly irrelevant to the collecting focus of Special Collections, and is
taking up needed space in my stacks.  While I do believe that some of the
materials in the book collection should remain in Special Collections,
either because they are valuable or related to our mission, I feel that many
of them should be sent back to the circulating stacks or weeded out.  Do any
of you have collections like this in your archives, and if so, what is
your criteria for accepting/declining proffered books?  I appreciate your
thoughts.  Thanks in advance.

Lisa K. Speer, Ph.D.
Special Collections Librarian
Kent Library
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
573.986.7446 (phone)
573.651.2666 (fax)
lkspeer@semo.edu

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