Weeding a Library Collection

Submitted by Meredith Causey

Sometimes library staff are reluctant to “get rid of books,” but the process of “weeding” is essential to maintaining an overall attractive and easily accessible collection of materials. 

Just like a gardener, librarians have to evaluate their “garden.” Library spaces are mostly static and do not enlarge, so you have a specific plot of land (aka shelf space) on which to “grow” your materials. However, there are always new and exciting materials to add to your garden!

Sometimes your plants wither and die no matter how much you lovingly tend to them. So too do some library materials sit and sit and sit and do not check out. These are excellent items to remove from your “garden” to make room for those new and exciting materials! Sometimes your plant is so happy, and it blooms and blooms and blooms until the end of its life cycle. So too do some library materials check out over and over and over until they look well-loved and a little worse for wear. These are excellent items to remove from your “garden” and perhaps “plant” again. 

Sometimes you plant heirloom varieties and sometimes you plant hybrid varieties—sometimes library materials are outdated because a new edition is released. You want to remove the older, outdated “blooms” to make room for the current and accurate editions. We would not want patrons to rely on outdated legal, medical, technical, or study guides for example!

If in doubt, err on the side of weeding! Don’t hang on to items that need to be weeded but that you are afraid that the title or subject is too important to do without the item. Items that have been weeded due to poor condition but are still current, popular materials will be noticed by Collection Development staff. Collection Development staff can order replacement copies depending on availability, budget, and space considerations. We do not want to keep a specific title on our shelf if it is in poor condition. Public Services staff are also encouraged to add subject needs/collection gaps to the Suggestions for Collections sheet on Drive.

Materials staff run reports on a scheduled basis to determine items to be removed from the “garden.” Staff from the Materials Department go to the branches and also work in the stacks to more easily determine core collection items that need to be replaced with new materials.  

Everyone benefits from weeding:  

• Patrons find it easier to browse through books in good condition whose spines are readable. 
• CSAs find it easier to accurately shelve items. 
• Information Services Staff find it easier to locate specific materials for patrons, and they feel proud knowing that the information is current and accurate. 
• Staff and patrons find it much more pleasant to handle items that are in decent condition as opposed to items that appear to be a health hazard or are falling apart. 
• Youth Services Staff find it easier to identify appropriate materials for youth programs, and they feel confident presenting attractive, current materials that show respect for their audience.  

Weeding is a win-win for everyone! The next time you see Kim, Molly, or Alexa in the branch, please don’t hesitate to say hello. They are working hard every day to ensure you have a beautiful “garden” of library materials!