What does deaccessioning mean?
Deaccessioning is the process of removing or disposing of items from a collection, often due to their lack of cultural or historical significance. This can be a contentious issue in the museum and library communities, as it can be seen as a way to prioritize certain items over others. However, it can also be a necessary step in maintaining a collection and ensuring its long-term relevance. Deaccessioning can involve the removal of hundreds of items from a collection, and it often requires careful consideration and evaluation of the items in question. The process can be complex and nuanced, and it requires a deep understanding of the collection and its significance. Despite its challenges, deaccessioning is an important part of maintaining a collection and ensuring its continued relevance and importance. It is a process that requires careful consideration and evaluation, and it can have a significant impact on the collection and its users.
nounThe process of removing or disposing of items from a collection, such as a museum or library, often due to their lack of cultural or historical significance.
- The process of removing or disposing of items from a collection.
"The museum underwent a major deaccessioning process, removing hundreds of items from its collection to focus on more valuable and historically significant pieces."
"The museum underwent a major deaccessioning process, removing hundreds of items from its collection to focus on more valuable and historically significant pieces."
The plural form deaccessionings is used to refer to multiple instances of the process of removing or disposing of items from a collection.
"The museum underwent several deaccessioning processes over the course of a decade, resulting in the removal of thousands of items from its collection."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of deaccessioning
The word deaccessioning is derived from the verb deaccession, which is itself derived from the noun accession. The term accession refers to the act of adding or acquiring new items to a collection, and deaccessioning is the opposite process of removing or disposing of items from a collection. The word deaccessioning has its roots in the 19th century, when museums and libraries began to develop formal policies and procedures for managing their collections.
How deaccessioning is actually used
Deaccessioning is often a contentious issue in the museum and library communities, as it can be seen as a way to prioritize certain items over others. However, it can also be a necessary step in maintaining a collection and ensuring its long-term relevance.