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American Library Association Weeding Standards for College Libraries “Obsolete materials such as outmoded books, superseded editions, incomplete sets of longer works, broken files of un-indexed journals, superfluous duplicates, and worn out or badly marked volumes should be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

Record with Status Message

Another Record

Weeding Flow Chart

Query Table Design

Query Build (1)

Query Build (2)

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 Discretion may be needed for withdrawn books which are historical, etc.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