[Unisfa] Book disposal, was Re: Committee meeting 05/04/17

[Nick Bannon]

On Mon, Apr 03, 2017 at 08:31:47AM +0000, natasha gilford wrote:
> The agenda is as follows: [...]
> - book removal

https://www.facebook.com/groups/UniSFA/permalink/10154675485296026/
> Simon Lawrance March 29 at 6:42pm
> Update on the Book Burn list:
> For Burning: [...]

De-accession and disposal is absolutely necessary, thanks for engaging it!
http://library.unimelb.edu.au/collections/about-the-collections/collection-development-and-review/principles-for-de-accession

Two offence-related things though:

1. "Book burning"

As a humourous reference, I get it, but I'd rather if emphasis was put
on "removal" or the more formal library terms "de-accession" and "disposal".

To my surprise, it seems we don't have a copy of "Fahrenheit 451" now?
There was one in a pre-Koha library export (and an older, missing, copy).

http://library.unisfa.asn.au/cgi-bin/koha/opac-search.pl?q=au:Bradbury,Ray

I have a spare, good condition, paperback copy and I would be delighted
to donate it.

2. Religious texts

https://www.facebook.com/groups/UniSFA/permalink/10154693762026026/
[...]
https://www.facebook.com/groups/UniSFA/permalink/10154675485296026/
[...]
> Lyndon 'Frames' White: Can I request for the next book removal,
> that we please remove all religious texts?
> Sure we can laugh and say "Hahah yeah the Book of Mormon is an utter
> fantasy."
> But it is honestly kinda offensive to many who follow some religion, to
> have their holy text in a speculative fiction library.
> Like Reply 1 March 30 at 3:08pm Edited
> Simon Lawrance: I am planning to do that when i find them, not having
> done so yet is the only reason they havent been put up
> Like Reply 1 March 30 at 3:11pm

I'm thankful that it doesn't seem to have come up quite yet on today's
update, but I think there does need to be a saving category for a small
selection of books. The ones that may not fit the main thrust of science
fiction and fantasy but do give some context to the 95-99% of books and
materials that do fit.

I get the impression it would (usually) be more pleasing than offensive
to the more evangelical believers to have a Bible or Koran on hand. They
are cultural cornerstones. I don't propose we collect the whole set, and
I've got no attachment to a 1990 Webster's Dictionary but some types of
references should make the cut.

However, I'm also trying to make a plausible explanation of why we
should keep "Dianetics" next to the rest of the:
http://library.unisfa.asn.au/cgi-bin/koha/opac-search.pl?q=au:Hubbard,L.Ron

<cough>
Nick.

-- 
   Nick Bannon   | "I made this letter longer than usual because
nick-sig at rcpt.to | I lack the time to make it shorter." - Pascal