Print Monograph Weeding Guidelines 

This policy applies to: 

• Circulating print monographs 

This policy does not apply to: 

• Dissertations and theses (retain) 

• Archival or Special Collections materials 

• Course Reserves 

• Government documents 

1. Collections should support current teaching, research, and academic programs. 

1. Circulation history, publication date, and acquisition date are key indicators for review. 

1. Materials with low or no use are candidates for withdrawal. 

1. Items related to Flagstaff, Northern Arizona, or the Colorado Plateau require additional review before withdrawal. 

1. Materials readily available online or through DDS/Rapido may be candidates for withdrawal. 

Librarian judgment may override these criteria when scholarly value justifies retention. 

Usage 

• Not checked out in 10 or more years (flag for review) 

• Never checked out 

Low use alone does not require withdrawal but should be evaluated alongside other criteria. 

Publication Date and Currency 

Age alone is not sufficient reason to withdraw review older materials for relevance and accuracy. 

Published earlier than: 

• STEM: 10–15 years 

• Education, health, law: 10–15 years 

• Social sciences/business: 15–20 years 

• Humanities: Evaluate for enduring relevance 

Assess older items for scholarly significance before removal. 

Physical Condition 

• Pages are torn, missing, or illegible 

• Binding or spine is severely damaged 

• Mold, mildew, water damage, or pest damage is present 

• Heavy annotation or staining affecting usability 

• Cannot be safely shelved or used 

If the content remains relevant or in demand, replacement or repair should be considered. 

Editions and Duplication 

• Retain the most current edition when appropriate. 

• Earlier editions may be withdrawn unless they have research or historical value. 

• When multiple copies exist, retain 1–2 copies of titles that circulate regularly. 

Sensitive or Outdated Terminology 

Items using language now considered offensive or harmful may be withdrawn unless they have historical, scholarly, or research value. 

Relevance to Curriculum 

• Information is outdated or inaccurate 

• Subject area is no longer supported by academic programs 

• Outside the scope of the institution’s teaching or research needs 

Availability Elsewhere 

• Widely available through DDS/Rapido or partner libraries 

• Stable digital version is available through the library or trusted repositories (e.g., HathiTrust) 

• Works authored by university faculty or staff 

• Materials related to Flagstaff, Northern Arizona, the Colorado Plateau or the Southwest 

• Materials documenting Indigenous communities of the region 

• Award-winning or widely recognized scholarly works 

These items are not automatically retained but should receive additional review before removal. 

• Has not circulated in 10+ years and exceeds general age guidelines 

• Is damaged and easily replaceable digitally or through DDS 

• The bookstacks contain multiple low/non-circulating copies, or a low/non-circulating bookstacks copy has a duplicate in SCA. 

Staff should use professional judgment when determining final withdrawal decisions.