Weed 'Em And Weep

Weed ‘Em and Weep! Hoarding is Not Collection Management Holly Hibner and Mary Kelly Awful Library Books www.awfullibrarybooks.net www.slideshare.net/awfullibrarybooks

[email_address] http://slideshare.net/marykelly48 http://practicallibrarian.blogspot.com Twitter: @librarymary40 Mary Kelly Youth Services Librarian

[email_address] http://slideshare.net/hhibner http://hollyhibner.com Twitter: @hhibner Holly Hibner Adult Services Coordinator

A good library is like a good haircut. It’s not what you cut – it’s what you leave. Anne Felix Grand Prairie (TX) Public Library System http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/crew/crewmethod08.pdf

Collection Management Image: copyright Hibner and Kelly

Why We Weed
“ To maintain a collection that is vital, relevant, and useful.”
Public Libraries are not in the business of collecting “things,” but providing content and access to content.
Space
Physical Condition
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/crew/crewmethod08.pdf

Physical Condition: Mold Spreads! Picture taken by Holly Hibner

Why We Weed
“ CREW continues to caution, however, that lack of funds to replace outdated or worn items is never an excuse for not weeding.”

Archiving & Preservation
What is your library’s mission?
What organizations exist to archive and preserve?
Image: http://ktliterary.com

Six Benefits of Weeding
Save space and time
Makes collection more appealing
Enhance library’s reputation
Build patron trust
Helps keep up with collection needs
Creates constant feedback on strengths and weaknesses of the collection

… But my boss won’t let me weed!
Have a plan
What collection to start with
What to do with them
Money for the library?
Make a case
Budget reports
Circulation reports
Space concerns

… But there are no bad books!
We beg to differ.
There are awful LIBRARY books.

… But someone might need them!
Who needs them?
When was the last time someone needed them?
Where else is the information available?

… But it’s in good shape!
Was it a mistake and no one ever wanted to look at it?
Did it go out of date too fast?

… But we won’t have anything left!
Re-examine your collection management policy.
Don’t forget about your electronic collections!
Nothing is better than something awful.
Image: http://clker.com

… But I don’t have time!
It’s your job. Make time.
If you keep up, it doesn’t take much time.
Get help from Pages, Volunteers, Interns
Image: http://www.alice-in-wonderland.net/pictures/white-rabbit-pictures.html

CREW Method
C ontinuous
R eview
E valuation
W eeding
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/crew/ Image: http://groundskeepertools.com

MUSTIE
M isleading
U gly
S uperseded
T rivial
I rrelevant
May be obtained E lsewhere
Image: http://wagnervana.com

Five Processes of “Reverse Selection”
Inventory
Collection evaluation
Collection maintenance
Weeding
Discarding
Image: http://intellichick.com

How Much? How often?
Start small
Bad condition
Duplicates
Report shelf-sitters quarterly
Follow collection objectives
One big weed, then continuously

Public Library Catalog
Final answer
or suggestion?

Physical Inventory
What do you really own?
What condition is it in?
Where does the catalog say it is located?
Where is it really located?
How is it linked?
What does the link tell you?
Image: http://123rf.com

Statistics
Gather them
Report them
Analyze them
Relative Use
Average Age
Turnover Rate
Available space
Image: http://juliuscampbell.com

Keep or Weed?
Boss Lady’s Arrival and Survival Plan
Foxworth
1986

Keep or Weed?
Witches
Jong
1981
Note: Adult content, cataloged as youth non-fiction

The Librarian's Passionate Knight Gerard 2003
Keep or Weed?

Keep or Weed?
Burt Reynolds Hotline: The Letters I Get…and Write! Reynolds 1972

Keep or Weed?
Forbidden Relatives: The American Myth of Cousin Marriage Ottenheimer 1996

Keep or Weed?
How to Make a Man Fall in Love with You
Cabot 1987

Keep or Weed?
I Can Be A Nurse
Behrens 1986

Keep or Weed?
New Joys of Jell-o Brand Gelatin Recipe Book
Kraft General Foods 1975

Sources of Free/Cheap CURRENT info
State Library
Professional associations
Bar associations
Health Departments
Schools, colleges, universities
Legislators’ offices

Keep Your Distance
Don’t be sentimental.
Put yourself in the patron’s shoes.
Compare collection to similar libraries.
Be realistic.
Are you proud or defensive of your collection?

Contact Us!
Holly Hibner
[email_address]
http://hollyhibner.com
Twitter: @hhibner
Mary Kelly [email_address] http://practicallibrarian.blogspot.com Twitter: @librarymary40 http://www.slideshare.net/awfullibrarybooks

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Weed 'Em And Weep

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