Ohio University Libraries Throw Out Books for Lack of Storage Space

For lack of storage space, the state of Ohio is throwing out spillover books from 13 of its university libraries. Librarians say that the library warehouses simply do not have enough book storage to hold all of the materials. Instead, librarians have announced to the media that their goal is simply to hold at least two physical copies each, in the entire state, of lesser-used academic books and journals.

The libraries that are throwing away books include Ohio’s state-run university libraries and the State Library of Ohio. The libraries call the process “de-duplication,” meaning that they are pulling out and throwing away duplicate copies of books to save on book storage. Most reference books and journals will only have two library physical copies saved statewide. The theory is that one copy of a work can be checked out at a time, while the other copy can remain safely in the library.

Ohio scholars quoted in The Chronicle of Higher Education, though, objected, noting that “Once you throw them out, they’re not coming back.”

The OhioLINK consortium, an electronic database, is providing electronic book storage for many of the books that are being thrown out, hoping to save them for posterity as ebooks, if not in bound book form.

A funding crisis has hit all of Ohio’s libraries hard in recent months, not just the university libraries, as the state has reduced its spending. Many libraries have frozen their budgets for buying new materials, and/or have cut staff and service hours. Thirty-five libraries statewide are hoping to get some funding in November, from the operating levies that are on local ballots. In most cases, Ohio’s libraries have never asked voters to agree to a levy before.

“We’ve cut staffing. We’ve cut benefits. We’ve cut materials. We’ve reduced hours. We’ve taken three weeklong furloughs in the last 12 months,” Elaine Paulette, director of Bowling Green’s Wood County District Public Library, told the Toledo Blade early in October. “Everyone has tightened their belts, and we’ve reduced expenditures the best we can, but this comes at a time when the library is more needed than ever before.”

Sources used:

Feehan, Jennifer. “Libraries statewide hope public OKs levies.” The Toledo Blade. Oct. 1, 2010.

“Lacking storage, Ohio tosses out college books.” Foster’s Daily Democrat. Oct. 18, 2010.

“Ohio libraries try ‘de-duplication to save space.” The Chronicle of Higher Education. Oct. 12, 2010.