Books are being removed from the shelves at The College of New Jersey’s R. Barbara Gitenstein Library as part of a significant weeding project aimed at maintaining and updating the library’s collection. This routine process, known as deaccessioning, ensures that materials remain relevant to current academic needs.
“Weeding, or deaccessioning, is a routine practice of librarianship,” said Library Director Erin Ackerman. “Our goal is to have a collection that responds to what our community needs, and those needs change over time.”
Ackerman explained that in an academic setting, it is important to align collections with curriculum developments, faculty research interests, and students’ evolving information-seeking habits. Some items become outdated—such as old directories or reference books—and others are now available more conveniently online.
“A lot of the information isn’t going away,” Ackerman explained. “It has just moved to a different format — and often one that’s more convenient for students to use.”
She added that managing shelf space helps protect remaining materials and improves access for users. Overcrowded shelves can make browsing difficult and cause damage to books.
Just as importantly, the weeding project addresses changing patterns in how students use library spaces. There is increasing demand for group study rooms and collaborative work areas. By freeing up space through weeding, the library may add new study areas or experiment with layouts that better support student activities.
“Libraries are about connection,” said Ackerman. “It’s about connecting people to information, to librarians, and to each other.”
Many of the removed books are not simply discarded; while some materials are recycled responsibly, hundreds have been donated through BookSmiles—a nonprofit book bank led by TCNJ alumnus Larry Abrams MAT ’01—which provides resources for classroom teachers and children throughout the region. Abrams founded BookSmiles after recognizing challenges faced by educators in building classroom libraries.
So far, BookSmiles has collected various titles from campus including encyclopedias and duplicate children’s books for redistribution across local classrooms.
For those who feel uneasy seeing books taken off shelves, Ackerman offered reassurance: “I get it,” she said. “Books represent experiences, discovery, and investment. But what matters most isn’t the container; it’s making sure people can access the information they need.”
This approach aligns with The College of New Jersey’s mission as a public institution focused on fostering critical thinkers and leaders through its educational offerings across fields such as arts, business, engineering, sciences and more (official website, official website). Located on a 289-acre campus in Ewing Township since its founding in 1855 (official website), TCNJ emphasizes adapting its resources—including library collections—to meet contemporary student needs.
