Weeding – a definition
“Eliminating that which is useless, inadequate,
harmful, or unsightly.
There is reason why weeding is both a
gardening and a library term: both require
care, attention, nourishment, and sometimes
ruthless decisions.
Think of your collection a living garden,
blooming through a constant process of
preparation, planting and pruning”
Alice Yucht
Weeding 101
Using weeding as an effective collection
development tool
Reasons to Weed………
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To make more space
Make your collection more appealing and
easier to use
Provide reliable information
Encourage greater care in handling
Allow opportunity for feedback
Remove the ILLUSION of well-rounded, well
stocked collection
Would you want to browse your collection?
Weeding and the
ODE K-12 Library Guidelines
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ODE has outlined guidelines and
standards for the delivery of library
services to students in Ohio. These
guidelines include, but are not
limited to:
Collection Development &
Curriculum Benchmarks
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Establish a collection development plan
Provide access to resources from within
and outside your library
Provide procedures for the
reconsideration of materials
Assist and instruct faculty in
instructional design, and the tools to
evaluate all resources at their disposal
Literacy and Reading Support
Guidelines
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Provide age appropriate reading material
based on student reading level and interest
Read to students and encourage reading
experiences
Provide Reader’s Advisory Services
Actively participate in national reading
activities & facilitate reading activities and
share culturally conscious literature
Provide time for sustained silent reading
Assist teachers in choosing high quality
literature
Library-based Technology
Guidelines
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Provide & promote the use of your online
public access catalogs (OPACS)
Provide computer access
Demonstrate effective use of library
technologies – Electronic Resources and more
Develop a virtual school library presence
Provide technology for all those in need
Practice ethical & responsible use of
technologies
Common arguments against
weeding……….
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There are as many
reasons to weed as
there are excuses
not to weed. Some
of the most common
arguments used
against weeding
are……
If I weed, I won’t have
enough books…………
What is enough? Focusing on the quantity of
materials in your collection won’t improve the
quality. Having too many books can harm your
collection by reducing the impact of your most
useful materials, especially if your patrons see old
and worn books. Remember if you are weeding
regularly you won’t have large gaps where old and
outdated material have been removed.
I don’t have time to weed
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A careful weeding plan can save you time by
making maintenance, search time and
shelving more efficient.
Weeding doesn’t have to be done all at once,
it is more effective when done gradually and
carefully
You can’t afford not to weed, it is critical to
the development of a useful and effective
collection
I can’t stand to throw away
books…………..
Weeding doesn’t necessarily mean the
books have to be thrown away. They can
be recycled, or passed onto another
community organization that can make
better use of them.
How Do I develop an effective
collection development policy?
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AASL Resource Guides for School
Library Media Program
Development
Use other established collection
development policies as a reference
I’m worried people will get
upset if I get rid of things…..
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This is where a well planned
collection development policy,
with a statement concerning
weeding, becomes invaluable.
Develop a policy, get it approved
by your Board and………STICK TO
IT!
Elements of a collection
development policy
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Define the procedures and criteria used for
selection, and requests for reconsideration of
materials.
Identify the personnel who participate in the
selection/evaluation process.
Establish a specific legal policy regarding the
selection and/or removal of materials.
Provide a process for the periodic review and
revision of the policy.
Okay, I do need to weed –
how do I start?
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Pick a starting point and set reasonable goals –
you will be able to easily identify problem areas
of your collection using collection development
tools.
Include everyone on your collection development
team – set up a system for requests for
materials
Set standards and guidelines, and develop a
system of tracking your weeding progress so
others don’t duplicate your work
Tools to help develop a
weeding plan
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Statistical
Reports
DASite Support
Titlewise®
Sunlink Weed of
the Month
Other considerations….
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Your library’s role in the
community
What are your user’s
needs?
Does your collection
relate to your
curriculum and other
subjects?
$$$ Available funds
Is Inter Library Loan an
option?
What should I consider when
weeding?
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Books and materials of poor content
Books and materials with poor
appearance
Materials outdated by current events
Curriculum strategies no longer
employed by your school district or that
use outdated technologies
Develop a “weeding slip”
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Weeding slips are a form you can
design with the information you want to
know about an item
Anyone can fill out these slips
Tape the slip to the front of the book,
and place it on the weeding cart for a
final evaluation
Take Action
Sample weeding slip….
Name__________ Date_______
____ copyright
____ other copies
____ last circ
____ other mats avail
____ last copy
____ ugly
____ duplicate
____ newer ed./shelf
Recommendation
______ pull _______replace ______ other
Weed as you go…..
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Examine materials as they are
returned and keep weeding slips
handy
Set aside obviously damaged
materials to determine if they can
be repaired or need to be
replaced
Every time you go to the stacks
select one book to review
Your eyes are one of your best
weeding tools – if a book looks
worn or outdated, pull it for
review
Using the CREW Method’s MUSTIE
Guidelines
What they are and how to apply
them to your collection
What does MUSTIE stand for?
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M = Misleading
U = Ugly
S = Superseded
T = Trivial
I = Irrelevant
E = May be obtained Elsewhere
How do the MUSTIE
guidelines work?
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nX/X/MUSTIE
The first figure nX refers to the years
since the book’s latest copyright date
The second figure refers to the
maximum permissible time without
usage (years since last circ)
The third refers to the MUSTIE
guidelines
Making your collection
appealing to kids
Format – Graphic Novels &
Redesigned Classics
 Reading Level
 Current interest
 Jacket art & illustrations
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What is the role of INFOhio’s
Electronic Resources?
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Use INFOhio’s Electronic Resources to bolster
your reference collection.
Many high quality resources are available at a
fraction of the cost it would take to provide
these resources yourself.
The average cost per student for these
resources is 45¢.
INFOhio has a collection development policy
already in place.
What to consider when
thinking about periodicals…
EBSCOHost
 Current Use
 Available indexing
 Space
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What NOT to weed…..
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Local History
Works by local authors
Works with local settings
Volumes of sets and series that have
special merit
Older reference volumes that augment
later editions
Who makes the final decision?
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Although, all staffers may be involved in the
process, the library manager/supervisor makes
the final call on what will be weeded.
In conclusion….
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Weeding doesn’t have to be a dreaded
chore
It will help your library run more
efficiently
Will make your collection more
appealing to users
Webliography….
Weeding Resources
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The Crew Method: Expanded Guidelines for Collection
Evaluation & Weeding for Small & Medium-Sized
Public Libraries by Belinda Boon of the Texas State
Library, Austin, TX; 1995
Education & Training-Onsite & Online Arizona
Department of Libraries
www.lib.az.us/text/cdt/weeding.htm
The Sunlink Weed-of-the Month Club
www.sunlink.ucf.edu/weed/
“Weed It! For an Attractive and Useful Collection.”
Western Massachusetts Regional Library System.
http://www.wmrls.org/services/colldev/weed_it.html
Webliography
Advocacy Resources
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VOYA Voice of Youth Advocates.
http://www.voya.com/
“Advocacy Toolkit for School Media
Specialists” Southwest Library Services.
http://www.swlibraries.org/advocacy.html
Collection Development
Resources
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“Library Technical Services” Lesson Plans. Southern
Utah University. Fall 2003.
http://www.media.suu.edu/lm3200/
"Collection Development (AASL Resource Guide)."
American Library Association. 2004.
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/resourcegui
des/collectiondevelopment.htm (Accessed 19 Oct,
2004)
SLJ.com http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Follett TitleWise – Library Products & Services.
http://www.titlewave.com/intro/keepyou.html