Oh What a Tangled Web We Weed:

A Project Using Voyager Reports

Thedis W. Bryant, Collection Development & Acquisitions Librarian

Mark Ellis, Serials Librarian

James Pendergrast Memorial LibraryAlbany State University

WHY WEED?

• Responsible librarians must weed as part of the total selection and evaluation process.

• To provide a more appealing, more up-to-date collection.

• To replace or remove material that my be worn out physically.

• To make the library easier for patrons and staff to use.

• To provide reliable information.

Why It Doesn’t Get Done?

“It takes too much time.” “I can’t bear to throw away books.” “I’m worried that someone will get upset if I get rid of

anything.” “If I toss it today, I’ll need it tomorrow.” “If I weed, I won’t have enough books.” “Weeding means admitting to mistakes.”

(1976 CREW manual, pp 19-20; 1995 CREW manual, pp 53-55.)

American Library Association Weeding Standards for

College Libraries

“Obsolete materials such as outmoded books, superseded editions, incomplete sets of longer

works, broken files of un-indexed journals, superfluous duplicates, and worn out or badly

marked volumes should be continuously weeded, with the advice of

faculty members concerned.”

The Forensic Science Project

Produce a Master Plan

Develop the Methodology

Determine Size of Core Collection

Establish Cut-off Date

Reconsider the Policy Document

Relegate and Relocate Materials

The Forensic Science Project

Produce a Master Plan

Develop the Methodology

Determine Size of Core Collection

Establish Cut-off Date

Reconsider the Policy Document

Relegate and Relocate Materials

Record with Status MessageRecord with Status Message

Another RecordAnother Record

Weeding Flow ChartWeeding Flow Chart

Query Table DesignQuery Table Design

Query Build (1)Query Build (1)

Query Build (2)Query Build (2)

Project SummaryProject Summary

Need responsible staff to assist with theNeed responsible staff to assist with the

project.project. Use inventory sheets to order Use inventory sheets to order

replacementreplacement

books.books. Discretion may be needed for withdrawnDiscretion may be needed for withdrawn

books which are historical, etc.books which are historical, etc.

References

Boon, Belinda, and Joseph P. Segal. The CREW Method: Expanded Guidelines for Collection Evaluation and Weeding for Small and Medium Sized Public Libraries. Austin, TX: Texas State Library, 1995.

http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/crew/background.html#whyweed

Gorman, G.E. and B.R. Howes. Collection Development for Libraries. London: Bowker-Saur, 1989.

Western Massachusetts Regional Library. Weeding the Library Collection.

http://www.wmrls.org/services/colldev/weeding.html