Updated 1/31/2023
This guide provides information about the Davis Family Library's review of its collection of circulating books, to identify outdated, duplicative, or no-longer-needed material. Academic libraries should, ideally, be in a state of constant review and updating in order to keep the collection relevant to current curricula and research. In practice, reviews tend to happen periodically because they're labor-intensive projects. At various times over the years, Middlebury library staff have reviewed discrete sections of the collection, but no one currently on staff can recall any comprehensive review taking place...and some have worked here for more than 40 years. That history means we have retained materials that were fresh and relevant 50 years ago but might no longer support the constantly evolving and advancing scholarly work that takes place at Middlebury.
To the left you'll find information on the project, including FAQs. If you prefer to skip all that and go straight to the shelf lists where you can review titles and ask us to retain or withdraw them, feel free to do so.
If you have questions about the project, please feel free to contact your library liaison or Terry Simpkins
