Weeding, discarding and disposal of unused materials

Abstract

Library is a growing organization. Library materials are unlimitedly being produced. If public library or other library whose patrons are mainly those who are on the stage of learning consentrate only in accumulating materials, they will, sooner or later, have serious difficulties in service and budget including problems of personnel, space and equipments.
When we scrutinize the foresight made by L. S. Shores in 1935, and see how well the present situation of U. S. proves it, we can easily be convinced that the problem of weeding and discarding is very acute in Japan, too.
Let me take up two examples of project of free disposal of unused materials which have been carried out in Japan recently. Then we will know there are some conditions necessary to make these projects successful. It is that library minded fairness on both sides of sender and recipient must be a premise for this kind of project.