This document provides guidelines for weeding instructional materials and media collections in Craven County Schools. It outlines criteria for determining if items are outdated, damaged, or no longer needed based on use and availability of replacements. The regulation establishes a media council to make collection decisions aligned with student needs. It also includes a table distributing subject areas by Dewey decimal classification and providing timeframes for weeding items in each area.

1. SECTION 500. 512.0701
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT POLICY
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND MEDIA COLLECTIONS
Craven County Schools believe that optimal student learning requires that all schools
provide students with the most current and appropriate instructional resources.
Therefore, as school library materials become dated, damaged, or lost, the school library
media specialist along with other appropriate staff members will determine: (a) if the
item is still available and can be replaced, (b) if a newer item might be a better choice,
(c) it the item is still needed by the community, or (d) if the Internet can provide a
superior selection.
Adopted by the Craven County Schools on March 21, 2002

2. SECTION 500. 512.0701
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT REGULATION
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND MEDIA COLLECTIONS
The following regulation provides guidelines on weeding media collections to ensure that
the collections are current and accurate. As with all collection and instructional material
decisions, the media council made up of the media specialist, teachers, and other
educators shall collaborate to align the selection of said materials with the academic and
social needs of the students.
Suggested Guidelines:
Weed First: Outdated and incorrect information, especially in these subjects:
computers, community helpers, law, science, space, health, technology, geography,
travel, and transportation, un-needed duplicates, biased or sexist terminology, materials
not circulated in the last 5 to 10 years based on use and community needs and materials
of poor appearance: dirty, shabby, brittle or missing pages, poorly bound.
Table 1.0 Distribution of Collection and Weeding Procedures by Dewey Number
Dewey K–5 % 6–8 9 – 12 Topics/ Types Guidelines
# of % of % of
Collection Collection Collection
Reference Keep basic material;
weeding depends on use.
Depends on use and needs of Refer to Dewey guidelines.
community. Almanacs Weed every year as needed.
Encyclopedias Weed all that are 5 years
and older.
000’s 2-5 2-6 6-8 Generalities Discard most resources over
10 years.
Computers Discard after 5 years.
100’s .5 1-2 1-2 Philosophy & Value determined by use.
Psychology Most useless after 10 years.

3. Table 1.0 Distribution of Collection and Weeding Procedures by Dewey Number, cont.
Dewey K–5 % 6–8 9 – 12 Topics/ Types Guidelines
# of % of % of
Collection Collection Collection
200’s 1–2 1–2 1–2 Religion Value determined by use.
Collection should contain
basic information, all
viewpoints, but not
propaganda, about religions.
Something up to date is
needed on every religion of
the community and the six
major international religions:
Buddhism, Christianity,
Hinduism, Islam, Judaism,
Taoism.
300’s 5 – 10 7 – 12 10 – 15 Social Sciences Discard most resources over
10 years.
310’s Almanacs Weed yearly, seldom of use
after 5 years.
320’s Politics Historical aspects, determine
by use.
360’s Social Wel. Historical materials,
determine by use.
370’s Education Keep historical materials if
they are used.
390’s Commerce Keep basic material; discard
Customs/ when worn out.
Holiday/ folklore
400’s .5 1–3 2–5 Language Keep basic material;
weeding depends on use.
Consider ESL/LEP students.
500’s 10 5 – 10 5 – 10 Natural Science Most science books are out
& Mathematics of date within 5 years.
510’s Mathematics Keep basic material, include
literature tie-ins.
520’s Astronomy Discard after 5 years.
Plants Use condition & use of book,
may be older than 10 years.
Animals Use condition & use of book,
may be older than 10 years.

4. Table 1.0 Distribution of Collection and Weeding Procedures by Dewey Number, cont.
Dewey K–5 % 6–8 9 – 12 Topics/ Types Guidelines
# of % of % of
Collection Collection Collection
600’s 10 5 - 10 5 - 10 Technology Discard most after 10 years.
(Applied
Sciences)
Inventions Keep significant historical
materials.
610’s Medicine Discard after 5 years.
620’s Engineering Discard after 5 years.
621’s Radio/TV Discard after 5 years, unless
historical.
629’s Tech/Space Discard after 5 years, unless
retrospective look.
630’s
640’s Home Econ/ Use condition & use of book,
Food may be older than 10 years.
Keep almost all cookbooks.
650’s Business 10 years, less if it relates to
computers.
660’s Chemical/food 5 to 10 years.
690’s Manufactures 10 years, except older books
on crafts, clocks, guns, toys
which may be useful.
700’s 5 5 - 10 5 - 10 The Arts Use condition & use of book,
may be older than 10 years.
790’s Sports Discard after 10 years.
800,s 5 5-8 5 - 10 Literature & Use condition & use of book,
Rhetoric may be older than 10 years.
900’s 20 15 - 22 20 Geography & Depends on use & needs of
History community, accuracy of fact
and fairness of information.
910’s Travel/Geog 5 to 10 years.
920’s 20 years, keep those which
are outstanding in content
and style as long as they are
useful.
921’s 10 years, keep those which
are outstanding in content
and style as long as they are
useful.
940- History 20 years. Depends on use
990’s and needs of community.
Fiction 40 - 60 35 - 55 25 - 35 Use condition & use of book,
may be older than 10 years.