Weeding with the CREW Method

Belinda Boon
bboon@tsl.state.tx.us
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

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Contain outdated or inaccurate information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

The CREW Method

Continuous
Review
Evaluation
Weeding

Reasons for Weeding

To save SPACE
To

save TIME
To

make the collection MORE

APPEALING

Reasons for Weeding

To enhance the
librarys reputation for
realiability and up-todatedness

Reasons for Weeding

To provide a continuous check on the

NEED FOR REPAIRS

To provide feedback on the collections

STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES

Obstacles to Weeding

Procrastination

Staff resistance

Negative reactions
of users and
administration

Reluctance to admit
selection mistakes

Obstacles to Weeding

Time consuming

Cost

Sacred quality of books

FEAR

Anything is better than nothing

Before Weeding

Evaluate the collection

Become familiar with the librarys

materials selection policy

Become familiar with goals for the

collection

Other Considerations

Librarys role in the community

Needs and demands of users

Other Considerations

How a particular item relates to

others on the same subject

Available Funds

Other Considerations

Cooperative agreements with

other libraries

Library considered an archive or

local history center?

Relying on ILL for discards

What to Weed

Books and materials of poor content

Books

and materials of poor

appearance
Unused

materials

What to Weed

Topics no longer within the priorities of

the collection

What to Weed

The MUSTIE Guidelines

M

Misleading

Ugly

Superseded

Trivial

Irrelevant

May be obtained Elsewhere

Weeding Criteria (all materials)

Date/Author

Publisher

Physical Condition

Additional copies

Weeding Criteria (all materials)

Shelf-time

Replacement expense

Relevance to the community

Other resources available

Weeding Criteria (Juvenile & YA)

Format

Reading level

Current interest in
subject matter

Jacket art/
illustrations

Weeding Criteria (Periodicals)

Current Use

Available indexing

Available space

Alternate formats
(e.g., online
databases)

Do Not Weed

Local history

Works by local
authors

Works with local

settings

Do Not Weed

Volumes of sets and

series with special merit

Older reference works

augmented by (not
superceded by) later
editions

Weeding Responsibility

The library media specialist

makes the final judgment
on what will be weeded.

Steps for Weeding (Before)

Make weeding a
part of policy

Read shelves

Check the librarys

holdings (inventory)

Steps for Weeding (During)

Gather usage statistics

Gather weeding tools

Examine the collection item by item

Check standard indexes

Steps for Weeding (After)

Treat books
according to their
slips

Order replacements

Promote with
displays

Incorporate weeding
into routine

Weeding Childrens Materials

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

Weeding Childrens Materials

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

Weeding Childrens Materials

Limited budgets make it impossible to develop

extensive childrens collections

Concentrate on best books lists featured in library

literature

Weeding Reference Materials

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

Weeding Reference Materials

Types of Materials
Almanacs
Dictionaries
Directories
Atlases
Handbooks
Indexes

Weeding Nonbook Materials

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

What to do with Weeded Materials

Rebind

Mend

Replace

Promote

What to do with Weeded Materials

Disposal Methods
Sell
Donate
Trade
Recycle
Destroy

Other Weeding Issues

Time Frames/Frequency

Sharing the Process

SUNLINK Weed-of-the-Month Club

(www.sunlink.ucf.edu/weed)

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)

Start weeding today!

Its NEVER too late!