PAPER #2Think about ….

• potential impact of media conglomerates• library users' expectations and preferences• vendor products and services• purchases/licensing by library consortia • aggregator packages/bundling of electronic resources• increasing amount of open content• library 2.0 technologies• notion of “library as place”• concept of the "universal library”

WHAT DO YOU CALL IT?

• Weeding• Deselection• De-accessioning• Withdrawal• De-acquisitions

WHY WEED?

• Free up space• Results in an efficient and effective collection• Increases quality of the collection• Saves staff time• Improves the appearance of the collection

WHY IS IT SO THORNY?(Stanley Slote)

• Numbers are important• Work priorities• Value of books• Process not straightforward• Users’ reactions

TO PREVENT A FIRESTORM…

• Treat weeding as an ongoing library function• Maintain a collection development policy

e.g., Morton Grove Public Library

• Establish weeding policies• Alert/involve key user groups

WHAT TO WEED: Considerations

• Last date of circulation• Physical condition• Timeliness• Language• Duplicates• Subject area• Material types

WHAT NOT TO WEED: Considerations

• Research value• Out of print• Local significance• Balance• Rare items• Titles on recommended or core

collection lists