Weeding the collection allows librarians to evaluate what materials they have, remove outdated or irrelevant items, and ensure they have relevant titles to meet patron needs. Milwaukee Public Libraries use a 5-year no circulation list as a starting point for weeding. Weeding recycles paper and makes space for newer, more current information while not throwing away knowledge. It is important to have a collection development policy to guide systematic weeding.

1. Weeding the Groeschel Elementary School
By: Alicia Groeschel

5. “Shelves need to look pleasant and inviting
to the patrons. Patrons need to believe
that they will find what they are looking
for on the shelves. They do not want to
have to search for what they want.”

6. Weeding allows librarians:
 To evaluate their collection , to see what
they truly have .
 To eliminate irrelevant information and
copies of materials that are falling apart.
 To see whether the collection has all of the
titles it needs to fulfill the needs of the
patrons.

7. Milwaukee Public Libraries use a 5-year No
Circulation List. This gives libraries a
starting point. The list is distributed twice
a year and librarians must examine each of
these titles to see if they are worth
keeping.

8. “Some materials are easier than others to
weed. Diets and exercise materials go
through fads. It’s easy to discard the
outdated materials. However, Yoga has and
always will stay the same.”

9. “We are not throwing away information.
We are just recycling the paper. Through
weeding, we are giving way for the most
current thought and information.”

12. Create a Collection Development Policy that allows for
systematic review of collections. The policy should
state a list of criteria with which the library staff can
use as a guide to weed the collection from.

13. CREW:
Continuous
Review, Evaluation, and Weeding

14.  Total Undesirables (titles superseded by new
editions, titles known to be inaccurate)
 Likely Undesirables (titles lacking good
illustration, having limited coverage, inadequate
documentation)
 Possible Undesirables (titles with poorly written
text, poorly reproduced graphics, poor translations)

15.  Duplicates;
 Unsolicited and unwanted gifts;
 Obsolete books, especially science;
 Superseded editions;
 Books that are infested, dirty, shabby, worn
out, juvenile;
 Books with small print, brittle paper, and missing
pages;
 Unused, unneeded volumes of sets; and
 Periodicals with no indexes

16.  Lack of time;
 Procrastination;
 Fear of making a mistake;
 Fear of adverse or embarrassing publicity; and
 Fear of being called a “book burner.”

17.  To save space;
 To improve access;
 To save money; and
 To make room for new materials

18.  Simple, easy to use shelves;
 The most current and up-to-date information;
 Well-kept and/or newer copies of books;
All make for happy, satisfied patrons!

19. “Less is more when it’s done
right.”