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Weeding
Keeping a collection current and meaningful is a constant task. No one item should be retained just to meet quantitative standards of "so many books per student". A smaller and more attractive up-to-date collection is of greater service to students and of a greater credit to the school. Weeding is an on-going process. Individual items will have to be disposed of when they have outlived their usefulness. Any piece of material should be discarded if it is:
* In such a condition that it cannot be mended or rebound.
* The content is so out-of-date that it is no longer useful.
* The paper or film becomes brittle, damaged or discolored.
* A shelf-sitter (a book that has not been circulated for five or more years). Consider keeping or purchasing a more attractive edition of a classic.
* A textbook.
* A duplicate of little used books.
* An older magazine that is not in support of curriculum.
Decisions concerning the collection may be made based on the following general criteria.
Condition
Antiquated appearance can discourage use. Materials with unattractive covers or containers; books with small print and faded, brittle, yellow pages, and materials with missing components, pages or sections deter use. Warped sound recordings or video and audio recordings with deletions will frustrate users. If materials should remain in the collection, replacements are warranted. Otherwise, materials may be considered for discard.
Duplication
Often a collection includes duplicate titles that may no longer be of interest to the students. These materials may be moved and transferred to library media centers where such items could be used.
Age
Materials that are dated are subject for review
and removal. For example, reference sources in geography that are over five
years old, almanacs and yearbooks that have been superseded, science materials
in categories where facts change drastically in a five year period.
Encyclopedias that have not been updated for over five years should be
considered for replacement and are often donated to classrooms. Often visual
media includes photographs that may be dated or biased. Consider replacing audio
and video materials with an updated format.
The following guidelines are offered.
General Reference
Encyclopedias should be considered for updating after five years and usually no later than ten years. Much of the information will be outdated. Bibliographical sources will need to be considered in the same time frame. Yearbooks and almanacs should be updated as superseded. (In some cases yearbooks and almanacs are kept for use in history classes or for instruction in use of the source. If so, current documents should be retained and older versions kept in other more appropriate areas.
000s
Computer materials will change rapidly with the technology. Replacement may be required more often. Consideration might be give to paperback versions.
100s
Self-help psychology and guidance materials may need to be reviewed for dated pictures and concepts.
200s
Philosophical and religious materials should be reviewed individually and as a collection to ensure that as many points of view as possible are presented.
300s
Certain subject areas will need constant revision while others should be very carefully and seldom weeded. Basic sources on customs and volumes on folklore will probably be removed only because of poor physical condition. On the other hand, sources on local, state, and national government should be current. Depending on the curriculum, historical coverage of economics, communication, transportation, politics, and education will be maintained. Review of sources for dated dress and mannerisms is especially important.
400s
Depending on the size and use of the collection, old grammar materials and foreign language sources should be examined for dated examples and illustrations. Dictionaries differ in words included, especially using slang words that have come into common usage.
500s
Unless general science works have become classics, obsolete materials should be discarded. Each scientific area differs in the rate of change. Astronomy materials may become dated before botany sources. New discoveries in energy may require updating works in this field more often than materials in subjects such as natural history. Certain materials present ideas in unique ways and should be carefully considered before discarding.
600s
Many of the concerns identified for the 500s apply to the 600s as well. Certain materials on medicine, radio, television, industry, space exploration, automobiles and technology will become dated rapidly. Other areas such as pets, crafts, and the cookbooks may be used often and need to be replaced because of their condition.
700s
This section often includes collections of handsomely illustrated sources on art, music, and other fine arts. These materials may be irreplaceable. Consider replacing old black and white materials with a color edition. Sources that are heavily used should be considered for replacement or, as is often the case, rebinding. Materials on certain hobbies may need updating. Use patterns should play a role in determining what needs updating. Sources on various sports should be current with duplicate copies available.
800s
Literary history should seldom be discarded. Consider replacing classics with more attractive editions.
900s
Geography and travel materials tend to become
dated quickly. Except for items that are classics, geography and travel
materials over five years old should be considered for removal/replacement.
Historical materials should be examined for bias. The collection should contain
a range of materials on all historical periods and geographic areas.
Fiction and Easy
Use patterns greatly influence the review of
fiction collections. Materials popular one year will sit on the shelves at
other times. Duplicates once needed may no longer be appropriate. Replacement
of popular worn items must be considered. Out of print items may be rebound if
they fill a specific curriculum need or reading interest.
Pull any cards related to the item you may be holding in any local catalog.
Remove barcode label from item.
Delete school name from item with a permanent marker or other means.
Remove book pocket and circulation card if applicable.
Disposal Steps (After Discard steps are completed)
BOOKS (if still useable)
They may be given to faculty or staff for use in classroom reading centers.
They may be given to approved school-sponsored organizations for fund raising activities or for promotional reading.
Send an e-mail to the district’s Fixed Assets Coordinator with number of books withdrawn.
MEDIA materials and EQUIPMENT (if still useable)
Discarded materials and equipment may be placed in classrooms, used for parts, or disposed of through the Distribution Center.
Fill out EQUIPMENT TRANSFER form, list all items, but note how many items actually need to be picked up. Send form to the district’s Fixed Asset Coordinator.
Fill out Equipment Transfer form listing the Distribution Center as the “TO:” and send form to the Fixed Asset Coordinator.
The Equipment Transfer Form is also the Work Order for the pickup of the items.
If item is carried in any separate building inventory -- remove it.