Duplicates Policy

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Duplicates Policy

As a general rule, the library acquires only one copy of any given book.
If the library already owns a particular book, a bibliographer may decide to replace that copy with a new one, or he or she may, in rare cases, decide to add a second copy. Such a decision would be based on two factors, frequency of use and/or the physical condition of the book.

If the book in question has begun to deteriorate, and the bibliographer determines from the circulation record the book is likely to be used again, it is recommended that the bibliographer replace it with a newly purchased copy, if it is available. If a gift copy of a book the library owns becomes available, the bibliographer may elect to replace the library's copy with the gift copy, after comparing the condition of the two editions.

The bibliographer may also elect to add a second copy of a book the library owns, either by purchasing a new copy or adding a gift copy, if the book has circulated frequently and recently enough to indicate the need for a second copy.

Guidelines regarding the number and date of circulations, and their relation to a decision to replace or add, will vary from discipline to discipline. This decision is best left to the individual bibliographer.

In cases in which the library has acquired more than one copy of a given book, for whatever reason, bibliographers are encouraged to weed unnecessary copies. Such a decision would also be based on frequency of use and physical condition.