View in EDS

The most difficult thing in librarianship: approaches to deselection in Aotearoa New Zealand libraries.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: The most difficult thing in librarianship: approaches to deselection in Aotearoa New Zealand libraries.
Authors: Goulding, Anne1 (AUTHOR) anne.goulding@vuw.ac.nz, Campbell-Meier, Jennifer1 (AUTHOR), Cheng, Shiyao2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of the Australian Library & Information Association. Sep2026, Vol. 75 Issue 3, p478-496. 19p.
Subject Terms: *Deselection of library materials, *Cultural awareness, *Collection development in libraries, *Library administration, Maori (New Zealand people), Collection management (Libraries)
Geographic Terms: New Zealand
Abstract: Deselection remains a core yet often contested aspect of library collection management, shaped by shifting user needs, evolving professional values, and technological developments. Although recent scholarship highlights the growing use of data analytics and decision-support tools for deselection, far less is known about how librarians understand deselection in contemporary practice, particularly in contexts where cultural obligations and responsibilities are significant, such as in Aotearoa New Zealand. This study examines the factors influencing librarians' deselection approaches in Aotearoa. Using a qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with librarians across a range of library settings. Findings show that while space constraints continue to motivate reductions in print collections, deselection decisions are driven primarily by user-centred considerations, including the need to maintain collections that are current, relevant, and responsive. Participants valued data-driven tools for promoting consistency and reducing subjectivity, but professional judgement remained central, especially when working with Māori materials, where cultural sensitivity and accountability are critical. The analysis demonstrates that deselection in Aotearoa New Zealand libraries is not merely a technical task, but an affective, relational, and culturally informed practice shaped by local contexts, professional values, community expectations, and bicultural commitments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of the Australian Library & Information Association is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 196759365
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: The most difficult thing in librarianship: approaches to deselection in Aotearoa New Zealand libraries.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Goulding%2C+Anne%22">Goulding, Anne</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> anne.goulding@vuw.ac.nz</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Campbell-Meier%2C+Jennifer%22">Campbell-Meier, Jennifer</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cheng%2C+Shiyao%22">Cheng, Shiyao</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+the+Australian+Library+%26+Information+Association%22">Journal of the Australian Library & Information Association</searchLink>. Sep2026, Vol. 75 Issue 3, p478-496. 19p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Deselection+of+library+materials%22">Deselection of library materials</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+awareness%22">Cultural awareness</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Collection+development+in+libraries%22">Collection development in libraries</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Library+administration%22">Library administration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Maori+%28New+Zealand+people%29%22">Maori (New Zealand people)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Collection+management+%28Libraries%29%22">Collection management (Libraries)</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22New+Zealand%22">New Zealand</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Deselection remains a core yet often contested aspect of library collection management, shaped by shifting user needs, evolving professional values, and technological developments. Although recent scholarship highlights the growing use of data analytics and decision-support tools for deselection, far less is known about how librarians understand deselection in contemporary practice, particularly in contexts where cultural obligations and responsibilities are significant, such as in Aotearoa New Zealand. This study examines the factors influencing librarians' deselection approaches in Aotearoa. Using a qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with librarians across a range of library settings. Findings show that while space constraints continue to motivate reductions in print collections, deselection decisions are driven primarily by user-centred considerations, including the need to maintain collections that are current, relevant, and responsive. Participants valued data-driven tools for promoting consistency and reducing subjectivity, but professional judgement remained central, especially when working with Māori materials, where cultural sensitivity and accountability are critical. The analysis demonstrates that deselection in Aotearoa New Zealand libraries is not merely a technical task, but an affective, relational, and culturally informed practice shaped by local contexts, professional values, community expectations, and bicultural commitments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of the Australian Library & Information Association is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=196759365
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/24750158.2026.2689212
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 478
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Deselection of library materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cultural awareness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Collection development in libraries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Library administration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Maori (New Zealand people)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Collection management (Libraries)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: New Zealand
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The most difficult thing in librarianship: approaches to deselection in Aotearoa New Zealand libraries.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Goulding, Anne
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Campbell-Meier, Jennifer
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Cheng, Shiyao
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 09
              Text: Sep2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 24750158
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 75
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of the Australian Library & Information Association
              Type: main
ResultId 1