Synopsis
At a first glance the management of a zoo has little to do with managing an academic library: However both institutions have to face similar expectations by the general public regarding the task of long term storage. Withdrawal does not fit into this image. In public, most emotionally led discussions rational motivations hardly can be convied.
In the following it will be discussed how this issue can be dealt with in public objectively and self-confidently and to which extent an ultimately successful taboo break by a zoo director from 2014 might serve as a model for librarians. The debate on deacquisition within academic libraries has been going on for more than three decades. It will be considered as well as current discussions voicing fears to lose parts of our cultural heritage.
