Embedded Files
TTSD Library Services Weeding Process
TTSD Library Services Weeding Process
Establish criteria and a purpose
Record your reasoning and criteria for the weeding project at hand
Share your reasoning and criteria with your building principal
Include a project timeline and plan for refilling and restocking shelves - if collection will appear sparce
If there is a surplus, mention that as a reason why the weeded material will not be replaced
If it is a large project (removing more than 500 copies)
Share your written plan and criteria with the District Librarian and Director of Teaching and Learning
Be mindful of collection size
Try to maintain a collection of at least 9,000 library materials, ideally settling between 10,000 - 12,000 copies
Focus on older materials first
Follow CREW and MUSTIE guidelines
Books that are 20 years old or older may be weeded at the discretion of each library staff member
Share reasoning for removing books less than 20 years old with the District Librarian prior to removal (Damaged and duplicate copies are exceptions)
Once approved mark the book as "loaned out, "lost" or "out for repairs" depending on the reason for removal
Weed by publication decade
Start with the most dated material by decade and work up
Decade lists retrievable in Titlewave
Titles newer than 2000 require coordination with the District Librarian
Damaged and duplicate copies are an exception
Start with copies that have had 0 circulations since 2013
Can increase to one or two circulations
If there is an ample supply on the shelves you can increase to 3 or 4 circulations
Weed 500 copies at a time:
Run an analysis after weeding each group of 500
Compare analyses, revisit weeding goals, and move forward from there
Coordinate with the District Librarian if weeding more than 500 titles at once:
Collaboratively develop or share a plan for replenishing the collection
If there is a surplus, replenishment should not be necessary
Shelves should not be bare for more than a few weeks
Keep some material on the shelf until it can be replaced with newer content
Display more outward-facing titles to fill the space
Process new books before weeding a ton of old books
District Librarian can help process books and refill shelves if needed
Collections need to consistently have:
Fiction and Nonfiction signage
KF can provide temporary signage if in the midst of deciding
Outward facing titles
Convention-based Genre Fiction organization is preferred by students, staff, and T&L
TTSD library staff should consult C.R.E.W. guidelines for weeding
TTSD library staff should consult C.R.E.W. guidelines for weeding
crewmethod12.pdfHow many books should library staff remove from the collection each year?
How many books should library staff remove from the collection each year?
TTSD library collections should have between 10,000 - 13,500 copies depending on the average age of the collection.
It is unnecessary to have a collection of over 14,000 copies unless the collection's average publication age is 2000 or newer.
Weeding Procedure
Weeding Procedure
Remove the material from the library collection by scanning the barcode in the "Update Copies" page in Destiny
Make sure to select the "track as weeded" option
Use a "WITHDRAWN" or "DISCARD" stamp or sticker or sharpie to cover up any identifying library information found in the weeded material
Cross out barcode and school name with a sharpie or remove the label from the copy
Cross out school address and name with sharpie or cover it with a blank label
What should TTSD library staff do with books that have been removed from the collection?
What should TTSD library staff do with books that have been removed from the collection?
Weeded school library material (non textbooks) should first be offered to students, staff and other school libraries.
Titles that contain outdated information are an exemption and should be recycled instead.
If the site has many excess copies, weeded titles or donations, it is permissible to organize a used book sale fundraiser to raise funds for new books. Books should be no more than $1 - $2. Leftover books should be given away to students. See TTSD Board Policy IGDK-AR for more info.
Small amounts of leftover weeded materials may be donated.
Large amounts of library books in poor condition may be sent to a recycling facility.
Should TTSD Library Services Staff recycle books?
Should TTSD Library Services Staff recycle books?
Small amounts of paperback books with no cellophane cover may be recycled in a mixed recycling bin. Taking the covers off helps make it very clear that it was an intentional discard.
Washington county accepts hardcover books at their recycling centers only. More info here.
Please do not put too many books into the building recycling bin at once. This can be perceived as wasteful.
Other Sources that Accept Weeded Materials
Other Sources that Accept Weeded Materials
Discover Books - https://www.discoverbooks.com/
If a site has a huge amount of books that are not worth much staff can arrange a pick up at your site with Discover Books.
Discover Books no longer pays out but they do bring their own boxes and haul the materials away.
Local Rep: Ryan Kent | 253-254-3238 | rkent@discoverbooks.com
Weeding and Transferring Electronics
Weeding and Transferring Electronics
Outdated technology such as VCRs and tape players can be weeded or recycled .
Complete a deletion of equipment form for all electronic devices with a TTSD asset tag. Admin should agree on deletion prior to removal.
If the building does not have electronics recycling, or the set date is far, the item may be donated after all tags are removed.
The link below also contains a transfer of equipment form and a new equipment tag request.
Weeding Past Curriculum Materials
Weeding Past Curriculum Materials
Angie Willis maintains curriculum weeding guidance. Please reach out to Angie to gather information about the newest curriculum adoption and disposal process as TTSD typically receives new curricula and discards old curricula annually.
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