1. Weeding with the CREW Method
Belinda Boon
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

2. 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Contain outdated or inaccurate information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 library’s collection

3. The CREW Method
Continuous
Review
Evaluation
Weeding

4. Reasons for Weeding To save SPACE To save TIME
To make the collection MORE APPEALING

5. Reasons for Weeding
To enhance the library’s reputation for realiability and up-to-datedness

6. Reasons for Weeding
To provide a continuous check on the NEED FOR REPAIRS
To provide feedback on the collection’s STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES

7. Obstacles to Weeding Procrastination Staff resistance
Negative reactions of users and administration
Reluctance to admit selection mistakes

8. Obstacles to Weeding Time consuming Cost “Sacred” quality of books
FEAR
“Anything is better than nothing”

9. Before Weeding Evaluate the collection
Become familiar with the library’s materials selection policy
Become familiar with goals for the collection

10. Other Considerations Library’s role in the community
Needs and demands of users

11. Other Considerations
How a particular item relates to others on the same subject
Available Funds

12. Other Considerations Cooperative agreements with other libraries
Library considered an archive or local history center?
Relying on ILL for discards

13. What to Weed Books and materials of poor content
Books and materials of poor appearance
Unused materials

14. What to Weed
Topics no longer within the priorities of the collection

15. What to Weed The MUSTIE Guidelines M = Misleading U = Ugly
S = Superseded
T = Trivial
I = Irrelevant
E = May be obtained Elsewhere

16. Weeding Criteria (all materials)
Date/Author
Publisher
Physical Condition
Additional copies

17. Weeding Criteria (all materials)
Shelf-time
Replacement expense
Relevance to the community
Other resources available

18. Weeding Criteria (Juvenile & YA)
Format
Reading level
Current interest in subject matter
Jacket art/ illustrations

19. Weeding Criteria (Periodicals)
Current Use
Available indexing
Available space
Alternate formats
(e.g., online databases)

20. Do Not Weed Local history Works by local authors
Works with local settings

21. Do Not Weed Volumes of sets and series with special merit
Older reference works augmented by (not superceded by) later editions

22. Weeding Responsibility
The library media specialist makes the final judgment on what will be weeded.

23. Steps for Weeding (Before)
Make weeding a part of policy
Read shelves
Check the library’s holdings (inventory)

24. Steps for Weeding (During)
Gather usage statistics
Gather weeding tools
Examine the collection item by item
Check standard indexes

25. Steps for Weeding (After)
Treat books according to their slips
Order replacements
Promote with displays
Incorporate weeding into routine

26. Weeding Children’s Materials
Types of Materials
Juvenile Fiction
Young Adult Fiction
Picture Books (easy readers)
Nonfiction

27. Weeding Children’s Materials
Other Considerations
Simplified Classics (abridgements)
Series Books
Older Titles
Travel and Geography
Science, Medicine and Inventions
Text Books

28. Weeding Children’s Materials
Limited budgets make it impossible to develop extensive children’s collections
Concentrate on “best books” lists featured in library literature

29. Weeding Reference Materials
Considerations
Older editions may be weeded when superceded
Materials should be periodically evaluated
Different replacement schedules

30. Weeding Reference Materials
Types of Materials
Almanacs
Dictionaries
Directories
Atlases
Handbooks
Indexes

31. Weeding Nonbook Materials
Types of Materials
Art Prints
Filmstrips
Videocassettes
Audiocassettes
Book/Tape Sets
CD-ROMs
Computer Disks

32. What to do with Weeded Materials
Rebind
Mend
Replace
Promote

33. What to do with Weeded Materials
Disposal Methods
Sell
Donate
Trade
Recycle
Destroy

34. Other Weeding Issues Time Frames/Frequency Sharing the Process
SUNLINK Weed-of-the-Month Club (

40. Other Weeding Issues Training and Education
Arizona State Library -CD Module (
Idaho’s Alternative Basic Education (ABLE) Program (

44. Start weeding today!
It’s NEVER too late!