What Were We Thinking? A Call to Embrace Reappraisal and Deaccessioning

Abstract

Mark Shelstad at the University of Wyoming has summed up the archival profession's apparent attitude toward deaccessioning by referring to it as "a word never to be uttered aloud." If his observation is true, this article intends to help shatter the silence. I recommend that the archival profession embrace reappraisal and deaccessioning as basic, important, and effective collection management tools-integrally related to collecting policies, documentation goals, appraisal, space allocation, processing, and reference. Reappraisal and deaccessioning should be viewed as the archival equivalent of "mom and apple pie."

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