DISPOSAL OF LIBRARY MATERIALS POLICY
POLICY NUMBER: 3.02
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This policy safeguards that withdrawn library materials are disposed of in an orderly and legal manner, and identifies disposal methods.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 Executive Director, or designee(s), to withdraw and dispose of library materials.
In order to maintain a collection of materials that best serves the public, WCLS must periodically withdraw library materials (books, magazines, 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:
- By making them available to nonprofit Friends of the Library groups to support their book sales. Each Friends group that takes materials within the calendar year will be assessed an annual fee of $10 by WCLS.
- By transferring them to nonprofit organizations that specifically exist to benefit WCLS, primarily the Whatcom County Library Foundation.
- By using them for outreach to nonusers to introduce them to the library and library materials.
- By donating them to other institutions or nonprofit organizations so that they may continue to be used.
- If the materials cannot otherwise be disposed of, or are damaged, they will be recycled or discarded.
WCLS employees may only purchase withdrawn library materials through Friends or systemwide book sales.
RELATED POLICIES: Collection Policy 3.01; Gift Acceptance Policy 20.12.
STATUTORY REFERENCE: RCW 39.33.070 School districts and libraries – Disposal of obsolete or surplus reading materials – Procedures.
APPROVALS AND UPDATES
| Date | Action | Reviewer | Approved By | Approval Signature |
| November 16, 1999 | Adopted. | – | Whatcom County Library System Board of Trustees | /s/ |
| December 13, 2010 | Revised. | – | Whatcom County Library System Board of Trustees | /s/ Deb Lambert |
| March 18, 2014 | Revised. | – | Whatcom County Library System Board of Trustees | /s/ Deb Lambert |
| December 20, 2016 | Revised. | – | Whatcom County Library System Board of Trustees | /s/ Marvin Waschke |