Removal and Disposal Policy

About the Removal and Disposal Policy

National Library is developing a new policy for removing and disposing of collection items. This will sit alongside other important policies that guide our collection management activities.

This new Removal and Disposal Policy will inform how we make recommendations to the Minister of Internal Affairs about items to be removed (or deaccessioned) from collections in the future and how we dispose of these deaccessioned items. Disposal will include decisions on whether we donate, export, or securely destroy them, or use any other method developed as part of the policy process.

The policy will help ensure that decisions are made in line with collections management best practice and legislative requirements. It will also help to ensure that the collections can meet the needs of current and future communities and users. An overarching policy will ensure consistency of future decisions about the removal and disposal of items from collections and guide the Library’s approach to receiving input from stakeholders on those decisions.

Read the Draft Removal and Disposal Policy

Development of the policy

A Removal and Disposal Advisory Group has been set up to advise our team during the development of this policy. Advisory Group members bring their own expertise and the views of their organisations to the discussions. Members of the Removal and Disposal Advisory Group are people with experience, knowledge, and skills to advise on the development of the Policy. The Advisory Group comprises representatives from:

• Library and Information Association New Zealand Aotearoa

• Te Rōpū Whakahau (the leading national body that represents Māori engaged in libraries, culture, knowledge, information, communication, and systems technology in Aotearoa New Zealand)

• New Zealand Historical Association

• Professional Historians' Association of New Zealand/Aotearoa

• Auckland Museum, and

• Council of New Zealand University Libraries.

Timeline for policy development

The public engagement period for the Removal and Disposal Policy will ranfrom 3 April 2023 to 12 May 2023.

During this time we made presentations to and held discussions with, key stakeholders and interest groups. National Library received feedback from both groups and individuals during this time.

The Advisory Group have provided advice and input into a draft removal and disposal policy.

We are now considering all feedback, before drafting a final policy for consideration by advisory groups and final approval.

We anticipate the policy development will be completed in the first half of 2023.

Feedback process

National Library advisors will now review and consider what you have said. Mark Crookston, the Director of Content Services, who is leading the policy development, will personally read each comment. A summary of the feedback collected will be prepared for the National Library team and Advisory Group and considered as part of the drafting process.

Once the Library has reached a conclusion based on everyone’s feedback and official advice, we’ll finalise the policy. We will present the final versions of the policy, along with a summary of the feedback collected during the engagement process and the Library's response to it, to several advisory bodies.

These bodies are the Library and Information Advisory Commission, the Guardians Kaitiaki of the Alexander Turnbull Library, who both advise the Minister of Internal Affairs, and Te Komiti Māori, which advises Te Pouhuaki National Librarian.

Once the policy is approved by Te Pouhuaki National Librarian it will be published on the National Library website.

How does this relate to the Overseas Published Collections?

The removal decision for the items in scope for the Overseas Published Collections collection management project has already been made and agreed through due process. That project is currently paused and the disposal outcome in relation to those collection items will be made as part of the implementation of this policy.

Overseas Published Collections — collection management project

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We look forward to your feedback. For updates on the policy work keep an eye on this webpage, and our social media channels

If you would like to get updates about the policy development, engagement, and outcome, email NLPolicy@dia.govt.nz.