What tools can you use to determine what to weed?

As with many other things, I always rely on my email lists for help. Two good email lists are PUBYAC and YALSA-BK for getting help directly from other librarians.

I also go to Library Automation Services site. They have many reports that you can download. The main one that is handy is the dusty book report, although there are a couple others that may be of use.

Report 0017 – Dusty Book Report
This report lists all items that have not circulated since a certain date. The report is sorted by location and then call number. It includes detailed information about each item. It lists title, author, barcode, number of circs, and lots of other useful information.

Sunlink Weed of the Month – http://www.sunlink.ucf.edu/weed/

Western Massachusetts Regional Library – Weeding the Library Collection – http://www.wmrls.org/services/colldev/weeding.html

Collection Development Training for Arizona Public Libraries – http://www.lib.az.us/cdt/

Some reasons to weed:

1. Space – No one ever has enough space, but an area that is crowded and crammed is a lot less appealing than an are that has room to breath.
2. Condition – this is the easiest and most obvious reason to weed. If the book is in horrible condition, get rid of it!
3. Accuracy – if the information in the books people are checking out is inaccurate, it can mean bad grades on papers, or worse (in the case of medical information)
4. Tastes/Timeliness – Teens tastes change. If people aren’t interested in DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince anymore, don’t waste the space. If the book covers have teen with teased up hair and stone washed jeans, get rid of it.

~ by cathykyle on November 28, 2007.