Week+8+Weeding


 * Week 8 Weeding – posted Nov. 2, 2011**

The flip side of selection is what materials will be removed from your library? For what reasons would you “de-select” a book? This week we will look at de-selection or what is more commonly referred to as “weeding.”

Many librarians find weeding to be one of the toughest aspects of collection development. Most of us share affection for the books in our collections and know that the perfect reader for this book is out there somewhere! But if it hasn’t circulated in three to five years, that reader left your school long ago. In addition, candidates for removal are:
 * books that are outdated or incorrect
 * books that don’t match curriculum or student interest
 * not found in a retrospective selection source
 * unneeded duplicates
 * of a condition beyond your ability to repair.

Weeding also raises the issue of how or where to dispose of books. Many times well meaning folks will suggest sending the discards to intercity schools or schools in Africa. But don’t those students deserve to have the same accurate information as your students? It’s something to think about.

Check with your principal about your district’s book disposal policy. As a practical matter, I would recommend not placing the books in the school’s trash or recycling. Somehow those books always end up back inside the building and in your library!

Donham, pp. 161-165 Kerby, Chapter 5
 * Readings**

//Less is More// by Donna Baumbach and Linda Miller, pages 1-23. Handout provided at the first face-to-face session. (Note: Pages 1-20 are available online through Google books (http://books.google.com/books and do a search for “Less is More”)


 * Task with Discussion Board Posting**

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Take a look at the section you are working with for your final project. **Select 3-5 books you would weed**. (NOTE: If you are working with a model school or are planning for the day when you will have a library, pay a visit to the public library and look at the same Dewey numbers. Which of those books would you discard if you were the librarian.) ======

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After you've finished your weeding, share your thoughts on the discussion board. We want to hear about what you thought, what questions you had, what "gems" you found - let us know how the process went for you. ======

Email online discussion self-assessment score for Week 7. Due 11/5/11.
 * Assignment**