http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/06/managing-libraries/the-art-of-weeding-collection-management/#_
Why We Weed
http://awfullibrarybooks.net/why-weed/
Keeping Your Library Smelling F.R.E.S.H.
http://www.librarygirl.net/2013/10/keeping-your-library-collection.html
When I first arrived here the thing that stood out like a sore thumb was the nonfiction section. It was clear the majority of the books hadn't been touched in years. Many of them were yellow and had brown mold spots on them. In addition, many of them still had the cards in the back so I could see they hadn't been checked out in over 20 years (some go back to the 1960s). I asked my library assistants when the last time the collection was weeded and I was told that the previous librarian wanted to leave that job to me. I knew I had to make weeding the collection my priority this year.
Ian Chant in the "The Art of Weeding" article recommends breaking up the task and not doing it all at once. He is cautious because he feels it looks bad to the community of you discard hundreds of books all at once. I can definitely see his point, but I feel there are exceptions- such as our library. So far, I have discarded a little over 2,400 books and I still have the 900s and our biographies to go through.
I will admit, at first I felt guilty getting rid of so many books and it drives me nuts to see the empty shelves (even though I was following the Library Girl's guidelines in her article "Keeping Your Library Collection Smelling F.R.E.S.H."). However, whenever I go to weed some more I'm reminded why I took on this task. Our patrons deserve better than this. My students shouldn't have to be using books with the word "Negro" in the title (completely unacceptable) or books about technology that was written in the 1950s. That's not technology anymore, those are artifacts!!
The gaps in the shelves are very obvious, but I plan on moving our reference books out into the nonfiction section once I'm done weeding. Currently they are in a separate room and don't get used because students and teachers forget about them. Not only will this help with the gaps, but our Superintendent gave us 5,000 additional dollars to purchase new books. This obviously won't cover all the costs of updating the collection, but it helps tremendously.
As overwhelming as it was to start the weeding project, I'm glad I went for it. Our patrons deserve the best and that will always be my goal.
Here are some of the gems I've pulled so far:
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| My dad checked this out in 1970 |
I know that is an awesome task, but totally necessary. Our librarian just finished going through our library, since we are an elementary school, she offered the books free to the teachers. They have taken her up on that offer, I can tell you. Our school opened in 1974 and some of the books that she pulled had actually been donated by even older schools for the opening. It is hard to get rid of books, but the students do deserve great books on the shelves!
ReplyDeleteI am laughing at your pictures! Thanks for sharing. I found a gem that I just had to keep when weeding a couple of years ago.
ReplyDeleteGigi, I love your idea of trading them at McKay's
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I have to admit, weeding is a task I really enjoy as a librarian, mostly because of the comedic relief it provides. Just like you Magee, Dina and I have found some gems as you know, and I have enjoyed seeing our other colleague’s finds as well. Just the other day I was weeding our Story Collection and found a title with the word "Negro" in it. Like you said these are artifacts, and we are not a museum. We too have been given extra money to spend because of the gaps we have created on our shelves. I think those who know the value of the school library acknowledge the work we do like your superintendent and my principal. Although, I am really intrigued about how to spank a porcupine now, unfortunately, I could not find Rood's title on Follett, go figure!
ReplyDelete