Yes, I agree that it is important to dispose of stock responsibly. We
currently use the following methods. We are a medium-sized FE college, and
they don't cause us any problems in terms of extra workload.
- Book Aid International (http://www.bookaid.org/) (formerly known as the
Ranfurly Library) are a well-established means of redistributing quality
books to educational libraries in Africa and elsewhere. They are
understandably selective, but publish clear guidelines on what is useful to
them. The website is informative. The major problem is transport to
Camberwell, London, but in some areas volunteer Rotarians can organise this.
- Charity shops can often sell on general interest books, but similarly do
not wish to be lumbered with any old rubbish. In some areas Oxfam have
started making it easier by siting collection bins next to local bottle
banks. It just means someone volunteering to take away a few boxes in the
boot of their car.
- A very few collections can actually be sold to specialist bookshops (e.g.
we no longer needed our books on industrial archaeology). It is worth
circulating a list to several to increase chances of a sale.
- If you have any contacts with local schools (perhaps via staff's
children), school libraries will often be interested in the previous year's
edition of an annual publication which they can not afford. Likewise, FE
library budgets are smaller than HE, and the more
technical/business-oriented annuals may well be gratefully received each
year in your local college. These can be regular standing arrangements.
- When we withdraw an old edition of a textbook, we often pass it on to
staff in that subject area, since they like to have it as an additional
reference, and know which sections are outdated and to be ignored.
- We also have a booksale trolley. We sell some books from it for 50p each,
and it does reduce the volume a bit. It amazes me what people will take
away. I do have some reservations about it, since I feel that some of the
purchasers may not be able to discriminate between what is still sound
information and what is out-of-date. Am I jeopardising academic
standards?!
I hope you are successful in bringing about a change in policy. With a
little thought and no real effort it is possible to adopt a more ethical
approach. Increasingly manufacturers are expected to consider the full
lifecycle of their products, and perhaps it is something we should think
about as well. You may even save your institution some money, since they
probably have to pay for their waste disposal by weight...
James Clower, Brooklands College
-----Original Message-----
From: Gwynnett E (LRC) <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 01 March 2000 12:36
Subject: Withdrawal Policies
> I am hoping that somebody may be able to offer me some advice and
>information on any current withdrawal schemes that are in operation in
other
>institutions.
>The withdrawal policy that is being implemented here at the moment, is
>merely to withdraw and then pulp all unrequired stock. However, I feel that
>this cannot be the most fruitful (or ethical) way to dispose of all these
>books and would be most grateful to hear of any charities or schemes which
>would benefit from them or even of any internal distribution programmes
>which allow students access to withdrawn books in their colleges.
>Of course, as with anything else, the primary concern has to be one of time
>and money and at the moment there seems to be precious little of either to
>support my cause!
>Looking forward to hearing any suggestions,
>Emma Gwynnett
>Database and Cataloguing
>University of Glamorgan
>
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