COLLECTION WEEDING GUIDELINES
THE CREW GUIDELINES FOR WEEDING YOUR COLLECTION
The formulas given here for the various Dewey classes are rules of thumb based on professional opinions in the literature and practical experience. The formula in each case consists of three parts:
1) The first figure refers to the years since the book's latest copyright date (age of material in the book);
2) The second figure refers to the maximum permissible time without usage (in terms of years since its last recorded circulation);
3) The third refers to the presence of various negative factors, called MUSTIE factors.
For example, the formula "8/3/MUSTIE" means: "Consider a book in this class for discard when its latest copyright is more than eight (8) years ago; and/or, when its last circulation or in-house use was more than three (3) years ago; and/or, when it possesses one or more of the MUSTIE factors."
Most formulas include a "3" in the usage category and a MUSTIE in the negative factors category. The figure in the age category varies considerably from subject to subject. If any one of the three factors is not applicable to a specific subject, the category is filled with an "X".
MUSTIE is an easily remembered acronym for six negative factors that frequently ruin a book's usefulness and mark it for weeding:
M = Misleading (and/or factually inaccurate)
U = Ugly (worn and beyond mending or rebinding)
S = Superseded (by a truly new edition or by a much better book on the subject)
T = Trivial (of no discernible literary or scientific merit)
I = Irrelevant to the needs and interests of your community
E = The material may be obtained expeditiously Elsewhere through interlibrary loan or reciprocal borrowing.
In all cases, weeding decisions ultimately depend upon the professional judgments of the library staff who are responsible for the selection of materials in response to the needs of their library's patrons. While the MUSTIE formula may be used as a guide in making weeding decisions, these guidelines can and should be adjusted to meet the needs of the specific library, by substituting numbers that best reflect the library's mission and goals. Carefully consider all the factors involved in the weeding process, rather than automatically discarding an item with an older copyright date.
CREW GUIDELINES BY DEWEY CLASS
000 (Generalities)
004 (Computers)
3/X/MUSTIE
Works on computers are seldom useful after three years. Works on microcomputers and software have an even shorter life span, but may be kept on hand longer if there is strong community demand.
010 (Bibliography)
10/X/MUSTIE
Discard after ten years from the date of copyright.
020 (Library & Info. Science)
10/3/MUSTIE
Discard all that do not conform to current, acceptable practice.
030 (General Encyclopedias)
5/X/MUSTIE
Stagger replacement sets over a seven year period (e.g., replace Britannica in year one, World Book in year three, Americana in year five, then a new Britannica in year seven); one new encyclopedia set at least every five years. Older sets may be sold or circulated, but withdraw circulating sets after no more than eight years.
other 000's
5/X/MUSTIE
Except trivia which may be kept indefinitely or until no longer considered useful or interesting.
100 (Philosophy and
Psychology)
133 (Paranormal Phenomena)
15/3/MUSTIE
Should be kept until worn, although it will be necessary to replace lost titles every so often since this category includes the popular topics of fortune-telling, dream interpretation, and astrology.
150 (Psychology)
10/3/MUSTIE
Try to keep abreast of new and popular topics, especially the 158's (self-help). Replace works on clinical, comparative, and developmental psychology within five to eight years.
160, 170 (Logic)(Ethics)
10/3/MUSTIE
Value determined mainly by use. Replace worn classics with attractive trade paperback editions.
200 (Religion)
Try to have something up-to-date on each religion represented by a church, synagogue, or other assembly in the community or region, as well as something on the well-known modern sects such as Hare Krishna. Include timely and comprehensive information on the six major international religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Taoism.
10/3/MUSTIE
or
5/3/MUSTIE
Use 10/3/MUSTIE except for areas of rapid change, which are 5/3/MUSTIE. (This area is difficult to weed because (a) the items are often donated and librarians fear criticism, and (b) religious works SEEM like they should be treated exceptionally, but they should not be.)
300 (Social Sciences)
See that controversial issues are represented from all viewpoints and that information is current, accurate, and fair.
310 (General Statistics)
2/X/MUSTIE
Almanacs are seldom of much use after two years; add one, discard one every year, to keep only last three years in the collection. If possible, keep one copy in reference and one in the circulating collection for any year. Otherwise, copies from past years may be transferred from reference to circulating when superseded by new editions. All public libraries in Texas should have at least one general almanac and the Texas Almanac; need only last decennial census.
320 (Political Science)
5/3/MUSTIE
For topical books; historical materials are judged more on the basis of use: 10/3/MUSTIE.
330 (Economics)
5/3/MUSTIE
Update items available in revised editions. Be aware of radical changes in statutes, regulations, or general climate for a particular type of investment. Well-known authors with no newer books available and items intended as histories of a particular era may be retained if MUSTIE factors are acceptable.
340 (Law)
10/X/MUSTIE
Replace when more current data becomes available. Never keep superseded editions, even on heavily used topics like divorce or child support.
350 (Public Administration)
10/X/MUSTIE
Keep up-to-date; replace when state and federal administrations change or constitutional reforms occur.
360 (Social Services)
5/X/MUSTIE
Discard career materials after five years; older reference copies may be circulated. Pay close attention to revisions in standard test books (GED, ACT, etc.). Some may be retained for 10 years or longer if certain sections have not changed.
370 (Education)
10/3/MUSTIE
Keep historical materials only if used. Discard all outdated theories; check with a teacher or principal if in doubt.
390 (Customs, Etiquette, Folklore)
Folklore, Customs
10/3/MUSTIE
Keep standard works; weed according to use.
Etiquette
5/3/MUSTIE
Keep only basic, up-to-date titles.
400 (Language)
10/3/MUSTIE
Discard old-fashioned and unsightly textbooks and outdated school gram-mars. Need only stock dictionaries for major foreign languages (e.g., French, Spanish, Italian, German), and any other languages being studied or spoken in the community. Dictionaries: 5/3/MUSTIE.
500 (Natural Sciences)
5/3/MUSTIE
Carefully evaluate anything over five years old, except botany and natural history.42 Replace worn classics or significant historical works with new editions. Pay particular attention to the physics, environmental issues, and astronomy sections. Keep basic works of significant historical or literary value, such as Charles Darwin's classic Origin of Species, or Michael Faraday's Chemical History of a Candle. Replace worn copies with new editions.
510 (Mathematics)
10/3/MUSTIE
Replace older materials on algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus with revised editions. Discard most titles covering slide rules and the "new math" of the 1960s.
550 (Earth Sciences)
X/3/MUSTIE
Geology books on specific regions, especially Texas, should be kept indefinitely, or until superseded by newer editions. All general materials should be replaced when new developments occur in the field (e.g., theories about continental drift and plate tectonics have been revised in recent years). Field guides for amateur fossil, gem, and rock hunters can be kept for up to 20 years if physical condition allows, unless the area described has changed dramatically through man-made developments and/ or natural events.
570 (Life Sciences)
10/3/MUSTIE
580 (Botanical Sciences)
10/3/MUSTIE
600 (Technology, Applied Sciences)
610 (Medicine)
5/3/MUSTIE
Except Anatomy and Physiology, which change very little: X/3/MUSTIE. Keep only the current year plus one previous year (one reference, one circulating) of PDR and other prescription and over-the-counter drug directories, replacing when new editions become available. Materials on fast changing fields of research, such as AIDS, genetics, cancer, and infertility: 2/X/MUSTIE.
630 (Agriculture)
5/3/MUSTIE
Keep up-to-date; be sure to collect information on the newest techniques and hybrids if you serve farmers or ranchers. Keep the Yearbook of Agriculture for the last ten years; earlier if in demand, but be wary of those with outdated and potential harmful ideas, such as pest control using DDT.
635 (Horticulture)
10/3/MUSTIE
General gardening books may be useful for up to 20 years, so circulation is the main weeding criteria. Books about propagation of specific flowers or plants are considered outdated after 10 years. Materials that discuss the use of pesticides and chemicals: 5/3/MUSTIE.
640 (Home Economics)
10/3/MUSTIE
Be strict with old sewing and grooming materials in which styles change rapidly. Keep cookbooks unless little used; replace worn popular titles.
649 (Child Rearing)
5/3/MUSTIE
Keep abreast of changing trends and new theories; replace worn standards like Dr. Spock's Baby & Child Care with newer editions.
670 (Manufacturing)
10/3/MUSTIE
Keep books on old clocks, guns, and toys since these items are often collected. Also keep works on tools, farm implements, etc. that are still used in your community.
other 600's (Also Business)
5/3/MUSTIE
Technology is making such rapid advances that any materials over five years old are to be viewed with suspicion; especially those dealing with drugs, space technology, sex education, radio, television, medicine, and office skills. (Check to see if resources contain any information of historical value). One major exception: repair manuals for older cars and appliances should be kept as long as such items are generally kept in your community; replace when they become filthy or worn from use.
700 (The Arts)
745 (Decorative Arts)
X/3/MUSTIE
Retain basic technique books if well illustrated; replace worn and dated materials. Keep all materials on the history of interior design that are in acceptable condition. Discard general home decorating ideas after 10 years unless the decorating style becomes established as a distinct aspect of American interior design (e.g., "Southwestern," or "high-tech"). Keep stamp and coin catalogues up-to-date. Historical treatments of ancient, foreign, and commemorative coins may be kept indefinitely, unless the focus is market valuation, then keep no more than 5 years.
770 (Photography)
5/3/MUSTIE
Check closely for outdated techniques, and especially outdated equipment; if in doubt, check with local photography club or buffs.
790 (Recreation)
10/3/MUSTIE
Discard and replace as rules and interests change.
other 700's
X/X/MUSTIE
Keep all basic materials, especially histories of art and music. Replace with new editions when they become worn and unattractive.
800 (Literature)
Make a point of keeping files of assignments or reading lists from local schools, and check any discards against these lists. Asking local teachers to act as subject specialists when weeding this area is an excellent way to improve inter-action within the community.
X/X/MUSTIE
Keep basic materials, especially criticism of classic writers. Discard any works of minor writers no longer read in the local schools, unless there is an established demand among the non-student population.
900 (Geography and History)
910 (Geography and Travel)
5/3/MUSTIE
For guidebooks (such as the Fodor series) and for descriptive or scientific geography. Some may wish to stagger orders so that no guide is more than two years old.
10/3/MUSTIE
For personal narratives of travel, unless of high literary or historical value.
Other 900's
15/3/MUSTIE
Main factors: demand, accuracy of facts, and fairness of interpretation. Consider discarding personal narratives and war memoirs of World War II, the Korean Conflict, and Indochina War, in favor of broader histories of these conflicts, unless the author is a local person, or the book is cited in a bibliography as having an outstanding style or insight. Discard dated viewpoints (e.g., the McCarthy Era "World Communist Conspiracy" theory of modern history). Retain some older Revolutionary War materials if local schools assign annual reports on the subject (e.g., many schools participate in the annual DAR writing contest).
B or 92 (Biography)
X/3/MUSTIE
Unless the person treated is of permanent interest or importance, such as a U.S. President, discard a biography as soon as demand lessens. This rule especially applies to ghost written biographies of faddish celebrities. Poor quality biographies of major figures should be replaced with better ones, if funds permit. Biographies of outstanding literary value, such as Boswell's Life of Johnson, are to be kept until worn.
F (Fiction)
X/2/MUSTIE
Discard works no longer in demand, especially second and third copies of past bestsellers. Retain works of durable demand and/or high literary merit, but replace worn copies with new editions; a non-topical, well-written novel appealing to universal concerns will continue to circulate at a moderate rate for many years.
E Fiction (Picture Books)
X/3/MUSTIE
Evaluate all materials carefully using MUSTIE as a guide. Discard any not suitable for library use, including those with inferior bindings or any trite commercial publications that feature popular characters created merely to sell a product. Children's literature is a large part of the publishing industry; with the wealth of quality titles available, there is no excuse for keeping books with inferior stories or artwork in this section.
JF (Juvenile Fiction)
X/2/MUSTIE
Except award books and those on school reading lists (e.g., John Newbery Award, Coretta Scott King Award, Bluebonnet lists). Older, worn editions should be replaced when possible with newer hardcover or paperback editions with contemporary cover art. Evaluate closely for outdated styles, artwork, and mores, or prejudiced viewpoints. Discard if format and reading level are not appropriate to the current interest level of the book. Discard topical fiction on dated subjects and abridged or simplified classics in favor of the original, unless needed for slow or reluctant readers.
YA (Young Adult) Fiction
3/2/MUSTIE
Unless very popular. Keep current; any item that has not circulated within two years may be considered "dead" and removed. Discard YA fiction with outdated illustrations, story lines, or subjects. Replace older classics (e.g., The Pigman by Zindel; The Chocolate War by Cormier) with newer hardback or paperback editions.
J and YA Nonfiction
Use adult criteria for each Dewey category, but look especially for inaccuracy and triviality which are common faults of over-simplified children's nonfiction. See the section, "CREWing Children's Materials" for more detailed criteria.
Periodicals (Also Newspapers)
3/X/X
Bind only quality periodicals in constant use for research (e.g., National Geographic) and listed in Reader's Guide and other indexes in the library. Carefully weigh the costs for binding with costs for online searching or CD-ROM format. Other periodicals used for school research projects (e.g., Time, U.S. News and World Report): 5/X/X. If financially feasible, buy microforms (film or fiche) of magazines in heavy demand. For the local newspaper, see section, "Local History." Clip other periodicals and newspapers sparingly for the vertical file before discarding.
Vertical File and Government Documents
VF (Vertical File)
1/2/MUSTIE
Weed the vertical file rigorously at least once a year, with the exception of photograph or picture files. For text, keep only materials (newspaper clippings, pamphlets) covering topics of current interest for which no books yet exist (often a book will be published on a subject within six months after the material is placed in the vertical file). Date all materials when added to the file.
Government Documents
X/X/X
Libraries that serve as official depositories of federal documents are required by law to follow established procedures governing weeding outlined in Instructions to Depository Libraries. Procedures depend on whether the library receives some or all depository publications. Generally, documents produced in more than one physical format and superseded documents may be discarded on a routine schedule. The depository must return any money made from selling discards to the Superintendent of Documents. Selective depositories not served by regional depositories must keep one copy of all documents received through the depository system, so read rules and procedures carefully.
Disposal of state documents may also be affected by state law.
College Catalogs
2/X/MUSTIE
Keep current; keep only those catalogs from colleges of interest to students in your area and a few universities of national importance. If possible, circulate print copies of catalogs and reserve microfilm for in-house use.
Nonprint Media (Also AV)
WORST
Worn out, Out of date, Rarely used, System headquarters can supply, or Trivial and faddish. Monitor statistics of use for these materials and view/ listen to them periodically to deter-mine their condition. See the section, "CREWing Non-print Media" for more detail on individual formats.
Videocassettes
2/1/WORST
Examine closely after approximately 150 to 200 circulations; most commercial tapes wear out after about 250 to 350 viewings. Evaluate visual and sound quality; content accuracy; relevance of themes; and fairness of racial, cultural or sex role depiction; and the continuing relevance of material within the library's overall collection development plan.
Local History
X/X/X
Your library is also the logical archives of the community, and, in many cases, of the county. Retain all books on the history and geography of the city and county; all local newspapers (on microfilm if possible; otherwise photocopy onto acid-free paper. Brittle newspaper or fragments have little value in research); all accounts of travels through your immediate area; all memoirs of local figures; and all local city directories. Keep most books by local authors (if of even minimal literary value); and some genealogies of important local families. Collect local photographs, playbills, and other ephemera of possible interest to future writers in your area. If possible, start an oral history program; the audio- and videotapes created are unique, and therefore not subject to the WORST criteria. To prevent local history materials, particularly unique, rare, or valuable items, from becoming worn or soiled, make them non-circulating or transfer them to archival collections, perhaps in a local museum.
Donations (Also Memorials)
X/X/MUSTIE
Replace worn copies with newer editions if available, or newer books on the same subjects. Gifts are subject to the same criteria as other materials; items that do not circulate should be removed when they become worn or obsolete, regardless of their source.