WCLS

REVISIONS: December 13, 2010
ADOPTED: Nov. 16, 1999
POLICY NUMBER: 3.02
RELATED POLICIES: Collection Policy, Asset Policy; Gift Policy
STATUTORY REFERENCE: RCW 39.33.070
SCOPE: This policy safeguards that withdrawn library materials are disposed of in an orderly and legal manner, and identifies disposal methods.

The Board of Trustees of the Whatcom County Library System authorizes the Library Director, or designee(s), to withdraw and dispose of library materials.

In order to maintain a collection of materials that best serves the public, the library must periodically withdraw library materials (books, magazines, videos, DVDs, CDs, etc.) from the collection for a variety of reasons according to library best practices.

Library materials will be disposed of according to the following priorities:

1. By transferring them to the Bellingham Public Library (BPL), so that the materials can continue to be available to WCLS and BPL patrons via the libraries’ shared catalog.

2. By transferring them to non-profit organizations that specifically exist to benefit WCLS, primarily the Whatcom County Library Foundation and Friends of the Library groups. Each group that is transferred materials within the calendar year will be assessed an annual fee of $10 by WCLS.

3. By donating them to other institutions or nonprofit organizations so that they may continue to be used.

4. If the materials cannot otherwise be disposed of, they will be recycled or discarded.

No WCLS employee shall be permitted to purchase withdrawn library materials except during the regular open hours of a Friends or System-wide book sale.

Adopted by the Whatcom County Library System Board of Trustees