Remote shelving comes of age: Storage collection management at the university of michigan

For many research libraries, remote storage of collections is commonplace and an inevitable strategy for handling collection growth. Despite the prevalence of storage collections, little documentation of collection management strategies vis à vis storage exists in the literature. The processes employed at the University of Michigan Library for collection transfers are described, including an analysis of collection use data to develop criteria for storage. In addition, collection management issues which arise as storage collections mature are identified and questions for future storage programs raised.