Refresh Your Collection Weed Weed October 13 2006
Refresh Your Collection Weed, Weed! October 13, 2006 Jane Riches, MLIS Charles Wright Academy Samantha Harris, M. Ed. , MLIS Tacoma, Washington
Philosophy 101 A library is a constantly evolving organism. A library is never “finished. ”
What is weeding? • Weeding is the periodic and [hopefully] systematic review of library resources. • Weeding is part of a comprehensive collection development plan. • Weeding is deselecting.
Why weed? • Give your library “curb appeal” • Make room for new items • Focus on quality, not quantity • Increase circulation • Establish a reputation for reliability and accuracy
Why don’t we weed? • We’re just too busy! • Weeding upsets people! • Someone, someday might want it! • My shelves will look empty! • I paid $200 for that book!
How do you get started? Part 1 • Have three or more of the following: – Flexibility – Confidence – Decisiveness – A Plan – Community Support
How do you get started? Part 2 • Gather information – Collection development plan – Review the current curriculum needs – Get to know your collection • Understand school and/or district regulations – No formal procedures? Find a buddy! • Inform your community – Show examples – Educate on criteria – Gather feedback
What schedule works for you? • Weed books [on a daily basis] as you handle them • Weed during inventory • Weed for a certain time each week/month • Weed specific areas of the collection as they relate to projects, curriculum • Create a multi-year weeding schedule
Source: Managing Our Library Collections For Information Power. Bellingham, Washington Public Schools, 2004
Are Your Books MUSTIE? • Misleading – facts, stereotypes • Ugly – physical condition, age • Superseded • Trivial – have no discernible scientific or literary merit • Irrelevant • [Available] Elsewhere
Other criteria: • Frequency of use • Multiple copies • Mending as an option • General standards, i. e. , – Dictionaries…. . . . when newer editions appear – Biographies…………. …. . do we still care? – Encyclopedias…………. . . 5 -7 years – Works on computers…… 3 years – Atlases………… 5 years
Why Keep it? • Historical significance in literature, for the institution or the region • Work by a local author NOTE: Keeping obscure items on the shelf will cost you in space, accessibility and time.
Actually tossing • Make changes to catalog – Consider keeping a summary of discards • Clearly mark discards • Know your district/school policy • Offer to teachers for classroom instruction • Give away discards to non-profits… – But don’t create a headache for someone else • Recycle • Destroy
Resources and Bibliography SUNLINK Weed of the Month Club • http: //www. sunlink. ucf. edu/weed/ ALA Fact Sheet #15 – Weeding Library Collections • http: //www. ala. org/alalibrary/libraryfactsheet/Default 1446. htm Overbooked: A Resource for Readers - Weeding the Fiction Collection • http: //www. overbooked. org/ra/weeding. html Weeding Library Media Center Collections • http: //www. pld. fayette. k 12. ky. us/lms/weed. htm Managing Our Library Collections for Information Power. Bellingham, WA Public Schools, 2004 • http: //www. bham. wednet. edu/departments/libmedtech/libcollmanage. htm dmoz Open Directory Project: Weeding links • http: //dmoz. org/Reference/Libraries/Library_and_Information_Science/Technical_Services/Weeding/ Charles Wright Middle School Library • • http: //www. charleswright. org/library click on Middle School Library for conference resources
Contact Information • Samantha Harris, M. Ed. , MLIS sharris@mail. charleswright. org (253) 620 – 8414 • Jane Riches, MLIS jriches@mail. charleswright. org (253) 620 - 8323 Charles Wright Academy 7773 Chambers Creek Road W. Tacoma, WA 98467 -2099
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