Oh What a Tangled Web

1
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
2
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.

3
Why It Doesnt Get Done?

• It takes too much time.
• I cant bear to throw away books.
• Im worried that someone will get upset if I get
  rid of
• anything.
• If I toss it today, Ill need it tomorrow.
• If I weed, I wont have enough books.
• Weeding means admitting to mistakes.

(1976 CREW manual, pp 19-20 1995 CREW manual, pp
53-55.)
4
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  superseded editions, incomplete sets of longer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.

5
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
6
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
7
Record with Status Message
8
Another Record
9
Weeding Flow Chart
10
Query Table Design
11
Query Build (1)
12
Query Build (2)
13
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• Discretion may be needed for withdrawn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.

14
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/backgroun
  d.htmlwhyweed
• 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.htm
  l