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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 Library Albany State University. WHY WEED ?.
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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 Library Albany 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American Library Association Weeding Standards for College Libraries “Obsolete materials such as outmoded books, superseded editions, incomplete sets of longer works, broken files of un-indexed journals, superfluous duplicates, and worn out or badly marked volumes should be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 Relegate and Relocate Materials Reconsider the Policy Document
The Forensic Science Project Produce a Master Plan Develop the Methodology Determine Size of Core Collection Establish Cut-off Date Relegate and Relocate Materials Reconsider the Policy Document
Project Summary • Need responsible staff to assist with the project. • Use inventory sheets to order replacement books. • Discretion may be needed for withdrawn books which are historical, etc.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