There is a disturbing show on A&E called “Hoarders”.  Each episode features people who are unable to part with their belongings. These brave people are willing to be filmed in their homes surrounded by things that can be considered hazardous waste.  Hoarding is described as a neuropsychiatric disorder that will not get better unless the person is treated.
Libraries can be the perfect environment for hoarding like behaviors.  Library buildings regardless of size and budgets can be filled to capacity with things that have been saved beyond their usefulness.
There are record retention schedules that can help determine what records and paperwork must be retained and for how long. By now, everyone should be familiar with the numerous publications that clearly explain the standards for weeding materials from the library shelves.
Why do library staff and boards feel that libraries must be the keeper of “classics” and last copies? Our PAC, enables all of us – including people in our communities - to get what they need in an eight county service area without our assistance. Our couriers move thousands of items daily among the 60 library buildings. No library has the room to keep materials that aren’t moving among us.
Another thing libraries seem to hoard is old outdated computer equipment and software. For goodness sakes, if a computer cable does not have a USB at its ends, toss it.  Remember the ribbon cables? Those can go too.
My own hoarding tendency is email;  I can not ever seem to delete it. And if I do, I never delete the deleted folder – just in case.
What are other “hoarding” sacred cows? Or what is your justification to keep something? Or for that matter what is considered a classic that just can not be withdrawn.