The report sets out a withdrawal policy for the disposal of library stock.

The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report setting out a withdrawal policy for library stock.  It was necessary for the approach to withdrawal and disposal of stock to be formally agreed as it involved disposal of Council assets.  The policy was attached as Appendix 1. To the report

The report explained that Reading Libraries had a bookfund of £110,000 per year, the majority of which was spent on new and replacement printed books.  Books were withdrawn based on use, need, quality and condition. This meant that where an item was in poor condition, not being used, or was superseded/superfluous it would be withdrawn to provide space for new books.

The report explained that the majority of items were withdrawn as they were in poor condition, no longer required or not issuing.  These items totalled around 8-10,000 per year and as they were often of limited value, were either offered for sale to the public or collected by a book recycler.

The report also noted that following the successful Levelling Up Fund bid to build a new Central Library at the Civic Centre, there was a need to formalise the withdrawal approach as the service prepared to relocate.  The process set out in the policy would enable the service to efficiently and effectively assess its withdrawn stock and appropriately dispose of it and give the library service the freedom to look at different ways of maximising return and efficiently and effectively dispose of withdrawn stock.

Resolved – That the approach for the disposal of library stock and assets as set out in appendix 1 to report be agreed.