Weeding with the CREW Method

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Weeding with the CREW Method

• Belinda Boon
• bboon_at_tsl.state.tx.us
• Texas State Library and Archives Commission

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Weeding (culling, deselection)

• The process of removing books and other materials
  that are
• In dilapidated physical condition
• Contain outdated or inaccurate information
• Do not fit into the scope of the librarys
  collection

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The CREW Method

• Continuous
• Review
• Evaluation
• Weeding

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Reasons for Weeding

• To save SPACE
• To save TIME
• To make the collection MORE APPEALING

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Reasons for Weeding

• To enhance the librarys reputation for
  realiability and up-to-datedness

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Reasons for Weeding

• To provide a continuous check on the NEED FOR
  REPAIRS
• To provide feedback on the collections STRENGTHS
  and WEAKNESSES

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Obstacles to Weeding

• Procrastination
• Staff resistance
• Negative reactions of users and administration
• Reluctance to admit selection mistakes

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Obstacles to Weeding

• Time consuming
• Cost
• Sacred quality of books
• FEAR
• Anything is better than nothing

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Before Weeding

• Evaluate the collection
• Become familiar with the librarys materials
  selection policy
• Become familiar with goals for the collection

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Other Considerations

• Librarys role in the community
• Needs and demands of users

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Other Considerations

• How a particular item relates to others on the
  same subject
• Available Funds

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Other Considerations

• Cooperative agreements with other libraries
• Library considered an archive or local history
  center?
• Relying on ILL for discards

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What to Weed

• Books and materials of poor content
• Books and materials of poor appearance
• Unused materials

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What to Weed

• Topics no longer within the priorities of the
  collection

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What to Weed

• The MUSTIE Guidelines
• M Misleading
• U Ugly
• S Superseded
• T Trivial
• I Irrelevant
• E May be obtained Elsewhere

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Weeding Criteria (all materials)

• Date/Author
• Publisher
• Physical Condition
• Additional copies

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Weeding Criteria (all materials)

• Shelf-time
• Replacement expense
• Relevance to the community
• Other resources available

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Weeding Criteria (Juvenile YA)

• Format
• Reading level
• Current interest in subject matter
• Jacket art/ illustrations

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Weeding Criteria (Periodicals)

• Current Use
• Available indexing
• Available space
• Alternate formats
• (e.g., online databases)

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Do Not Weed

• Local history
• Works by local authors
• Works with local settings

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Do Not Weed

• Volumes of sets and series with special merit
• Older reference works augmented by (not
  superceded by) later editions

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Weeding Responsibility

• The library media specialist makes the final
  judgment on what will be weeded.

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Steps for Weeding (Before)

• Make weeding a part of policy
• Read shelves
• Check the librarys holdings (inventory)

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Steps for Weeding (During)

• Gather usage statistics
• Gather weeding tools
• Examine the collection item by item
• Check standard indexes

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Steps for Weeding (After)

• Treat books according to their slips
• Order replacements
• Promote with displays
• Incorporate weeding into routine

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Weeding Childrens Materials

• Types of Materials
• Juvenile Fiction
• Young Adult Fiction
• Picture Books (easy readers)
• Nonfiction

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Weeding Childrens Materials

• Other Considerations
• Simplified Classics (abridgements)
• Series Books
• Older Titles
• Travel and Geography
• Science, Medicine and Inventions
• Text Books

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Weeding Childrens Materials

• Limited budgets make it impossible to develop
  extensive childrens collections
• Concentrate on best books lists featured in
  library literature

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Weeding Reference Materials

• Considerations
• Older editions may be weeded when superceded
• Materials should be periodically evaluated
• Different replacement schedules

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Weeding Reference Materials

• Types of Materials
• Almanacs
• Dictionaries
• Directories
• Atlases
• Handbooks
• Indexes

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Weeding Nonbook Materials

• Types of Materials
• Art Prints
• Filmstrips
• Videocassettes
• Audiocassettes
• Book/Tape Sets
• CD-ROMs
• Computer Disks

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What to do with Weeded Materials

• Rebind
• Mend
• Replace
• Promote

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What to do with Weeded Materials

• Disposal Methods
• Sell
• Donate
• Trade
• Recycle
• Destroy

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Other Weeding Issues

• Time Frames/Frequency
• Sharing the Process
• SUNLINK Weed-of-the-Month Club (www.sunlink.ucf.ed
  u/weed)

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Other Weeding Issues

• Training and Education
• Arizona State Library -CD Module
• (www.lib.az.us/cdt/weeding.htm)
• Idahos Alternative Basic Education (ABLE)
  Program
• (www.lili.org/isl/cepage/ABLE.htm)

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Start weeding today!

• Its NEVER too late!