Libraries “Break Bricks” to Build Collections: Makerere University Book Bank Print Books Deselection Experience

Abstract

As an architect would skillfully put bricks together to build a house, so do libraries build collections over time. At Makerere University, the library functions such as acquisitions, processing, circulation services, as well as weeding are meant to grow and build a collection. The Book Bank unit plays a central role of coordinating all these library functions for textbook collection building, to serve all the ten colleges. As a result, the Book Bank collection has grown from 40,000 copies of print books in 1990 to the current collection of over 270,000 copies. To fit the philosophy and policy of deselection it became necessary to weed the cherished collection. Deselection and disposal of the books in Makerere University Library is guided by the Uganda Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act (PDPA) which is the Uganda government policy on procurement and disposal of public assets. This paper shares the policy development process that put in place a policy that now guides the deselection and disposal, as well as the practice and experience of deselection and disposal of print books at Makerere University in Uganda.