[ISLMA-Share] Book Weeding

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I would suggest weeding in stages, honestly.  You can always weed more.  My library needed and still needs extensive weeding, but it can be overwhelming- especially if you don't have the funds to replace materials, so think like Johnny Cash and do it "one piece at a time."


If you do it all at once, not only is it a giant thankless task, but you're also stuck with TONS of weeded materials at one time which can draw unwanted attention.


MUSTIE and CREW, like the pirate parley, "be more like guidelines."  It may turn out that you have something ugly, old, and trivial that has some quality that make it absolutely beloved.


The library is like a living organism and you really have to know what you've got to weed appropriately.


Here's the steps I do when I weed:


1. Pick a smallish section you think is particularly bad, like Fiction A-C or the 500s.  If you do all at once it can feel like an insurmountable task.


2. Weed for condition.  Pull whatever looks old or gross or what-have-you.  This'll save you time checking against lists.


3. If you're not sure, check the item against the circ stats.  You may have a teacher obsessed with Betsy Byars or something.


4. Keep an eye out for books that should be re-cataloged.  Sometimes you'll find a book that was assigned to a section where it doesn't really belong (Like "Smile" will be cataloged in "Dental Hygiene").  Also keep an eye out for culturally insensitive materials.  I got rid of a huge number of elderly children's biographies with covers featuring historical Americans wrestling Indians.


5. Delete the weeded books from the system.  Stamp or write "WITHDRAWN" somewhere super noticeable.  Otherwise they will return to you.


6. Separate the books into things that can be given away or things that should be tossed.  Old fiction?  Give it away!  1981 book on AIDS? Toss it!  It has dangerous information inside.   Make friends with a custodian who will help you dispose of dangerous info.   Watch for mold, water damage or other potentially dangerous states.


7. Set up a "Book Exchange" where anyone can take the weeded books.  Give teachers advanced notice if there's something they might want.  Look into recycling programs, but be aware that many have fairly specific requirements.


8. Select a different section and repeat 2-7 for condition.


9. Once you've weeded for condition, you can rerun your collection analysis and check your aged titles and start basing your weeding on the stats.  But I guarantee pulling condition first will knock a ton of 'em out.


10. Keep a running list of stuff that needs to be replaced.


11.  Weeding is HARD, especially when it comes to certain areas of Nonfiction.  Do be afraid to look up stuff to see if the information has been updated.



Kathryn Spindler
Teacher-Librarian, MLIS
Simmons Middle School
Aurora, IL


________________________________
From: islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info <islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> on behalf of Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info>
Sent: Monday, April 11, 2016 12:23 PM
To: Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association
Subject: [ISLMA-Share] Book Weeding

Good Morning,

I am going through a LARGE weeding process (I have never done it before lol). This is year 3 with no weeding....I am getting new carpet this year so it is perfect timing. I plan to start on Monday...any advice? How many years should I go back--I was thinking since 2010 (last check out date)? Do you just give them away? Donate them?

I am happy to let you all know what we have (in general) to see if anyone wants them.

Any advice is great!

--
Ryan Lambert
Farmington School District
District Media Specialist/Teacher
Musical Director
Senate Advisor
309-245-1000 Ext 6731
rlambert at dist265.com<mailto:rlambert at dist265.com>

"A person who feels appreciated will always do more than is expected"

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