Introducing LibraryLink: Helping Libraries generate revenue from their deaccessioned materials.
Introducing LibraryLink: Helping Libraries generate revenue from their deaccessioned materials.
Professional Collection Management Solutions
Weeding and deaccessioning are essential for maintaining relevant, high-quality library collections. Zoom Books LibraryLink provides comprehensive deaccession services — from free pickup of withdrawn materials to resale, recycling, and detailed compliance reporting. We support libraries implementing CREW, MUSTIE, and custom weeding guidelines.
Library weeding — the systematic removal of outdated, damaged, or low-circulation materials — and formal deaccession (permanently removing items from cataloged collections) are critical components of professional collection management. The American Library Association recognizes these practices as essential for maintaining collection quality and relevance.
However, libraries face significant challenges when disposing of withdrawn and deaccessioned materials:
Zoom Books LibraryLink eliminates these obstacles with a complete solution for withdrawn and deaccessioned library materials — combining professional handling, revenue generation, environmental responsibility, and comprehensive reporting.
Our processes align with American Library Association deaccession and weeding guidelines including CREW (Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding) and MUSTIE criteria. We provide comprehensive documentation supporting your library's policies and audit requirements.
Materials with resale value are evaluated and sold through our established marketplace network. Transform disposal costs into revenue streams — your withdrawn and deaccessioned items generate income instead of landfill fees.
Work directly with a dedicated specialist who understands your collection policies, weeding criteria, and processing schedules. No automated systems — receive personalized service from library industry professionals.
Select our Unscanned Program (weight-based, minimal prep) ideal for large weeding projects or Scanned Program (ISBN-level tracking, revenue sharing) suited for curated deaccession batches. Choose based on your workflow and goals.
LibraryLink handles virtually all withdrawn and deaccessioned library materials.
Fiction, non-fiction, reference works, and circulating materials of all types.
Textbooks, monographs, serials, journals, and scholarly publications.
Picture books, early readers, chapter books, young adult, and juvenile collections.
CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, audiobooks, VHS, and other physical media formats.
Foreign language materials and multilingual collection items.
Withdrawn government publications, reports, and depository items.
Bulk collection weeding — pallets, gaylords, or full trailer loads.
Off-site storage, basement, warehouse, and facility clearance projects.
Why forward-thinking libraries choose professional weeding and deaccession partners over do-it-yourself disposal methods.
| Factor | DIY Disposal | Zoom Books LibraryLink |
|---|---|---|
| Staff Time Required | Hours sorting, boxing, coordinating logistics | Minimal prep — we handle pickup and processing |
| Financial Cost | Dumpster rental + hauling fees | Free pickup — zero disposal costs |
| Revenue Generation | Friends sales (limited, staff-intensive) | Direct revenue from professional resale channels |
| Compliance Documentation | Manual tracking (inconsistent) | Comprehensive processing and impact reports |
| Environmental Impact | Often landfill destination | 98% diversion through resale + recycling programs |
| Community Perception | Risk of negative publicity | Positive sustainability and stewardship narrative |
Discuss your weeding criteria (CREW, MUSTIE, custom guidelines), project scope, timeline, and material types. Our specialists design a solution tailored to your library's collection management policies and operational capacity.
Box withdrawn materials in standard containers or arrange on pallets per our guidelines. Unscanned Program: No item-level sorting required. Scanned Program: Basic organization for ISBN processing. We provide detailed prep instructions.
Coordinate convenient pickup times. Our logistics network serves libraries nationwide — from single-branch locations to multi-campus academic institutions and large-scale system-wide weeding initiatives.
Materials undergo professional assessment. Resalable items enter our marketplace channels. Non-resalable materials are responsibly recycled. Receive payment and comprehensive documentation including weights, titles processed, revenue generated, and environmental impact metrics.
Library weeding (also called weeding library collections) is the systematic evaluation and removal of library materials that no longer serve the collection's mission. Deaccession is the formal, policy-governed process of permanently removing items from a library's cataloged holdings.
Both practices are endorsed by the American Library Association (ALA) as essential components of professional collection management and library collection development. Effective weeding and deaccession improve collection relevance, optimize shelf space for high-demand materials, reduce maintenance costs, and enhance the patron browsing experience.
The CREW method (Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding) is one of the most widely adopted weeding frameworks in public and school libraries. Developed by the Texas State Library, CREW provides systematic criteria for identifying materials to withdraw based on:
Libraries using CREW weeding guidelines benefit from a defensible, consistent approach that balances collection quality with community needs.
The MUSTIE method is a practical acronym guiding weeding decisions based on six key factors:
MUSTIE weeding provides librarians with clear, objective criteria that support transparent collection management decisions and community trust.
A comprehensive deaccession policy ensures consistent, defensible decisions and demonstrates professional stewardship. Essential policy components include:
The disposition phase — determining what happens to withdrawn and deaccessioned materials — is where Zoom Books LibraryLink delivers maximum value. Professional disposition partnerships provide:
By partnering with experienced professionals, libraries transform deaccession from an operational challenge into a strategic advantage.
Meet
With extensive experience in book recycling supply chain management, Denise brings proven industry expertise to Zoom Books’ thrift store and nonprofit partnerships. She leads supplier acquisition and logistics coordination across our North American operations, ensuring seamless service for retail partners.
At Zoom Books, Denise specializes in building custom thrift store partnership strategies that help retail partners transform excess inventory into recovered floor space and consistent revenue streams. Her hands-on approach ensures every thrift store partner benefits from optimized logistics and maximum value recovery.
Weeding is the broader process of evaluating and removing materials from library shelves. Deaccession specifically refers to the formal, policy-governed removal of items from the library's cataloged collection. Both are essential collection management practices endorsed by the American Library Association.
Yes. We work with libraries using CREW (Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding), MUSTIE criteria, ALA guidelines, and custom institutional weeding policies. Our documentation and reporting align with these professional standards.
Absolutely. We deliver comprehensive processing reports including weights processed, titles handled (in Scanned Program), revenue generated, and environmental impact metrics. This documentation supports audit trails, board reporting, and policy compliance requirements.
The Unscanned Program offers weight-based payment with minimal preparation — ideal for large-volume weeding projects or post-book-sale remnants. The Scanned Program provides ISBN-level tracking and revenue sharing based on individual item resale value — better for selective deaccession batches where detailed reporting is valuable.
Yes. We regularly support major weeding projects for library renovations, branch closures, consortium-wide collection assessments, and strategic collection reductions involving tens of thousands of items. Our logistics infrastructure scales to any project size.
We partner with all library types: public library systems, academic/university libraries, K-12 school libraries and media centers, special libraries, and consortium initiatives across the United States and Canada.
In the Scanned Program, each ISBN is evaluated against current market demand, edition, and condition using our proprietary pricing algorithms. In the Unscanned Program, compensation is weight-based, reflecting aggregate market value of mixed library materials. Both approaches maximize returns while minimizing library staff burden.
Non-resalable materials are processed through our recycling partners, achieving 98% landfill diversion. Paper materials are recycled as fiber. Media items are processed for materials recovery. Complete environmental impact reporting is included in your documentation.
Let our library industry specialists handle logistics, resale, recycling, and compliance reporting for your withdrawn and deaccessioned materials. Schedule a free consultation tailored to your collection management needs.