The most difficult thing in librarianship: approaches to deselection in Aotearoa New Zealand libraries

Deselection remains a core yet often contested aspect of library collection management, shaped by shifting user needs, evolving professional values, and technological developments. Although recent scholarship highlights the growing use of data analytics and decision-support tools for deselection, far less is known about how librarians understand deselection in contemporary practice, particularly in contexts where cultural obligations and responsibilities are significant, such as in Aotearoa New Zealand. This study examines the factors influencing librarians’ deselection approaches in Aotearoa. Using a qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with librarians across a range of library settings. Findings show that while space constraints continue to motivate reductions in print collections, deselection decisions are driven primarily by user-centred considerations, including the need to maintain collections that are current, relevant, and responsive. Participants valued data-driven tools for promoting consistency and reducing subjectivity, but professional judgement remained central, especially when working with Māori materials, where cultural sensitivity and accountability are critical. The analysis demonstrates that deselection in Aotearoa New Zealand libraries is not merely a technical task, but an affective, relational, and culturally informed practice shaped by local contexts, professional values, community expectations, and bicultural commitments.