Oh! They were the last copy in system location for their system.
Many large public library systems designate one branch (with good shelf space) to be the home for 'last system copies'. The book is withdrawn based on circulation statistics till the system as a whole is down to one copy. Then that copy is sent to the repository where it is withdrawn usually only if it becomes too damaged to circulate or if it becomes dangerously outdated (i.e., we try to pull home medical books that are 5 years old unless they're specialty classics, because medicine changes pretty fast and 5 year old info on many diseases is misleading and dangerous, but 25 year old info on bookbinding is still probably good).
no subject
Date: 11 Jan 2009 02:54 am (UTC)Many large public library systems designate one branch (with good shelf space) to be the home for 'last system copies'. The book is withdrawn based on circulation statistics till the system as a whole is down to one copy. Then that copy is sent to the repository where it is withdrawn usually only if it becomes too damaged to circulate or if it becomes dangerously outdated (i.e., we try to pull home medical books that are 5 years old unless they're specialty classics, because medicine changes pretty fast and 5 year old info on many diseases is misleading and dangerous, but 25 year old info on bookbinding is still probably good).