Collection Deaccession Policy: General Collections Print Materials

Collection Deaccession Policy: General Collections Print Materials 

Purpose

This policy governs the deaccession of print materials from UCSB General Collections. Deaccession, the formal process of removing items from the Library’s permanent collections, is a routine part of responsible collection management. It allows the Library to keep collections current, sustainable, and aligned with the research, teaching, and learning needs of the University. All deaccession decisions are made carefully, within a structured approval process.

Policy

No item designated as a unique holding under a UC shared print retention program may be withdrawn. All other print materials are subject to withdrawal review consistent with the governing principles of this policy. UCSB does not serve as the institutional record for the UC system; responsibility for long-term preservation is distributed across UC campuses and shared print partners. Deaccession decisions are made conservatively, with particular caution applied to non-English language materials and area studies content, where electronic access may be limited and systemwide duplication may be low. Items not eligible for SLF deposit are discarded. 

Authority

Strategists submit withdrawal candidates to the Director of Collection Strategies, who reviews and forwards approved lists to the AUL for Research Resources and Scholarly Communication. The AUL holds final sign-off authority on all deaccession actions. Any project that would result in a significant reduction of the overall collection in a defined subject area or format requires notification to the University Librarian. 

Review

This policy will be reviewed on a two- year cycle by the Division of Research Resources and Scholarly Communication.

Last updated: 05/19/2026.