Board approves disposal of obsolete textbooks and library materials; member urges retention of key titles

District staff presented a multi-step plan to remove obsolete, damaged or duplicate books and textbooks from school library shelves as part of an ongoing collection-management effort. Staff said the project began with inventory and faculty review and that two volunteer consultants (one from a previous Arizona district contact and a volunteer from the Goleta library center) provided best-practices guidance on selection and turnover.

The presenter described the inventory work and why many items were flagged, noting, "We have 7,000 copies of The Grapes of Wrath" as an example of duplicative holdings that prompted consolidation. Staff explained they are coding titles, vetting the deletion list with faculty, and pursuing options such as club yard sales or donation when recycling is not possible. The board member who queried the process raised concerns about removing titles that help students connect to diverse perspectives, citing specific examples: "I saw, like, for instance, Bless Me, Ultima," and urged that at least one copy of important works remain available.

Board members asked who is performing the vetting (librarian plus faculty and outside volunteers) and whether community groups would be offered materials. Staff said the librarian is coding items, faculty have reviewed lists and volunteers have consulted on best practices. The board then voted to approve the removal plan; the clerk recorded one abstention. The district said the deletions are limited to items that are damaged, obsolete, or excessive duplicates and that surviving holdings will be reviewed to maintain breadth of representation.

Provenance: Topic begins at SEG 853 with the obsolete equipment/textbooks presentation and concludes with the vote recorded at SEG 1127.