Weeding your CollectionKristy GatesCraighead County Jonesboro Public Library

Why we weed

• “A good library collection is like a good haircut. It’s not what you cut—it’s what you leave.”

• Anne Felix, Grand Prairie (Texas)Public Library System

Why we weed

• The school library supports a curriculum and materials must reflect this fact.

• Your collection should be age and developmentally appropriate.

• It should support the learning goals of your school.

The benefits of weeding

• You save space• You save time• You will keep your library current and exciting• You will have a greater knowledge of your library’s

collection

Shelves examples

CRAMPED

Nice and Neat

Getting Started

• Review your Collection Development Policy• Consider your school district’s policies and

standards• Check for curriculum updates• What are your goals for the collection?

Getting started

• Take a close a look at your library’s collection. Consider cluttered areas, books shelved too high or low, or items that look ragged and shabby

• Gather statistics

Our adventures in weeding

Crew Method of weeding• M-misleading :Look for “dated” popular fiction, obsolete

information, books containing racial, cultural stereotypes

• U-ugly :Books that are worn-out frayed, dirty and are unable to mend

• S-superseded: Look for duplicates, almanacs, yearbooks, encyclopedias superseded by newer editions

• T-trivial: Look for poor writing, inaccurate information, inappropriate interest or reading level for your students

• Y-your collection has no use for book• https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/pubs/crew/index.html

Crew Method of Weeding

• Easy Readers/Picture books-Weed any book that has not circulated in the past two years. Picture books are so heavily used that every title should go out at least once in a two-year period.

• Juvenile Fiction-Copyright is less important than use, but consider weeding anything that hasn’t circulated in the past two years.

• YA Fiction-Keep this section very current. Any item that has not circulated within two years should be considered.

Non Fiction/Copyright Considerations

• 000’s-2-10 years• 100’s-10 years• 200’s-5-10 years• 300’s-5-10 years• 400’s-10 years• 500’s-5-10years• 600’s 5-10 years• 700’s-5-15years• 800’s- flexible• 900’s-15 years

• Biographies-flexible• Enclyopedias-5-7 years• Periodicals-5 years• Almanacs/Yearbooks- 3

years in reference, 3 additional years in circulation

• Fiction-10 years• Reference- requires

constant evaluation

Keepers

• Classics• Award Winners• Local History• Annuals/School Publications• Biographical sources

Quick tips for weeding

• Everyone has at least 15 minutes at some point during the week to weed

• Take a section at a time, pull books that at first glance look like they might need to be weeded.

• Look at each book and apply the selection and weeding principles to each title.

What to do with your weeds

• Book Sales• Donate to other groups (Nursing Homes, FOL

Book Store)• Distribution or selling through various

organizations http://www.betterworldbooks.com/

• Recycling centers/Disposal• Switch with others • http://bookmooch.com/ http://

www.paperbackswap.com/index.php

Get Creative

• Be an artist! Scrapbooks, decoupage, furniture, etc.

http://tinyurl.com/ppd6q65 http://tinyurl.com/nkbbvph

More Creative ideas

• http://www.care2.com/greenliving/20-ways-to-reuse-old-books.html• http://

savedbylovecreations.com/2012/04/50-things-to-make-from-old-books.html

• http://www.funforever.net/archives/dont-try-this-at-home/• http://

www.ninakatchadourian.com/languagetranslation/sortedbooks.php

Looking for a way to boost circulation?

• A great way to get books to circulate at your library is to put them on display

Book Displays

Book Displays Suggestions

• Student’s Picks• People you should meet• Good books you may have missed• Last Chance Reads

Questions?

• What are some problems you encounter with weeding?

• What are your weaknesses when it comes to weeding? What do you have hard time letting go of?

• Any helpful suggestions for first time weeders?

Concluding thoughts• “Weeding, when viewed as a normal part of a school

library’s routine does not involve hot summer days or brown paper bags surreptitiously stored in the trunk of the school librarian’s car.”

• http://awfullibrarybooks.net/

My Info

• Kristy Gates• Information Services• kgates@libraryinjonesboro.org• http://

www.libraryinjonesboro.org/what-read-next• http://ccjplbookchats.tumblr.com/