A belated 'thank you' to everyone who responded to my original query re. edition succession.  For anyone interested I copy the original query and the responses below (apologies if I have omitted anyone's response in error).  The query arose because our practice, which seems to be fairly common, has been to retain at least one copy of the previous edition when a newer edition is published.  However, some lecturers have drawn to our attention the fact that they sometimes like to refer to a range of earlier editions in their teaching to show how a particular subject has changed over time.
Obviously we don't have space to keep a copy of every single edition of all our stock, so I think the answer for us lies in closer liaison with teaching staff before withdrawing items (along the lines of no. 7 below, but I'd want a well-argued justification for retaining things).  If anyone has more thoughts on this please e-mail me off-list.
Oh, and does anyone else out there (like no. 6) keep first editions too, and why?
Peter

I have been searching HE Institutions' Collection Management/Development Policies on the web for 'edition succession' statements - but in vain.
By that I mean criteria by which decisions are made whether or not to retain previous edition/s on the shelves when a new edition of a work is published.
If anyone can supply me with such a statement, either formally 'enshrined' or informally adopted I'd be grateful.

1. When superseded by new editions - generally the latest edition and the last but one of the standard texts will be retained unless the previous edition contains misleading material.  Where revisions are minimal and issues are high older editions may be kept but will be clearly marked.  A consultation process has been set up to notify academic or administrative staff of stock being considered for withdrawal. Relevant staff are contacted by their Subject Librarian or the Head of Learning Information Services and invited to view material being considered for withdrawal.  Their views are taken into consideration before items are removed from stock.  

2. As part of our review of our law collection we did write in a current
and one previous edition proviso to our specific Law Collection
Development Policy.

3. This is very informal, barely more than a rule of thumb...
New edition means old edition is binned. Lecturers always say "ah, but
chapters 5 & 7 haven't changed", but I say "ah, but you won't be there
to tell the student that all the others have!". In other words, old
editions may well lead the students astray.

4. For general and postgrad textbooks we tend only to keep the latest 
edition unless we have been specifically asked to keep an old edition.
the disposal of students textbooks is a bit more arbitrary
if there is room on the shelves we'll keep the latest two editions and 
no more, and if there isnt room on the shelves even the previous ed. 
will go providing it isnt embarrassingly new [probably 3 years prior to 
current ed]

5. As for textbooks - I work closely with the Teaching Staff, reviewing their subject areas in the Library with them - and am happy to do what they want with the texts. Some like to clear out older editions and some like to have them living side by side with the newest versions. So - not very scientific I'm afraid - but it does work for us at this moment in time.
6. With most books it is probably enough to retain only the first and the most recent editions. The editions between first and last should be removed from the collection, the decision being made by the Librarian.
7. we consider each title on its own mwrits. Some editions are
kept when they have material not retained in the new edition
but still of use. Such 'old' editions will have a book plate
noting that it has been 'retained on tutor recommendation,
new edition available'. Our stock selection is done in
collaboration with academic staff and discards are also
subject to the same joint decisions. Academics are at least
offered the chance to be involved, those who don't respond have to live with librarians' decisions.

8. legal texts or computing manuals 
obviously need replacing but in many other areas, where there isn't 
significant change, the older material may still be useful, even if not 
quite so up to date.

Peter Brooks
Head of Library Services
Royal Agricultural College
Stroud Road
Cirencester
GLOS
GL7 6JS
Tel: 01285 652531x2276
Fax: 01285 889844
mailto: [log in to unmask]
http://www.rac.ac.uk