If you are discarding a large amount, review your selection process. Documents must be kept five years before discarding. Exceptions are superceded and second copies or documents for which micrographic copies have been substituted. Microfiche that have been received through the Depository Library Program may be discarded after five years of retention without listing them on an exchange list. If a selective depository chooses to house any documents in another location, they are still primarily responsible for the disposal of those documents.
Regional libraries are responsible for maintaining one copy of each document.
For this reason depositories need to work closely with their regionals in the process of discarding publications. The selective library may discard only after being given permission by the regional. The discard list is the mechanism for this procedure. Checking this list against holdings is a time-consuming and costly process and a poorly prepared list makes a hard job much harder. The regional library is allowed to make the rules for the format and procedure of the discard list.