Weeding Policy (adapted from the West Fargo Public School District Library Media Manual)
Purpose
The Mapleton Elementary School Library Media Program recognizes the importance of maintaining a collection of current, appropriate, and useful materials. Therefore, a continuous review of the collection will be performed in order to remove or replace materials that are no longer useful. The following guidelines have been developed to aid in the weeding process; however, the final decision concerning the removal or replacement of material rests with the librarian.
Guidelines
Weeding by Appearance or Physical Condition
- Damaged volumes: Dirty, missing pages; tattered covers; etc.
- Materials of antiquated appearance that might discourage use
Weeding of Unessential or Duplicate Copies
- Unneeded duplicate titles
- Materials that no longer relate to the curriculum (if specialized)
Weeding Based on Poor Content
- Information is dated
- Information is inaccurate
- Stereotypes or bias are present
- Book is poorly written
Weeding According to Use
- Based on current circulation history
Weeding According to Titlewave collection analysis
- Aged Titles
- Aged Sensitivity
Categories of Books That May Be Quickly Outdated
- 000s: Computer
- 100s: Psychology (especially popular literature)
- 300s: College and career materials
- 400s: Grammars with dated examples and/or illustrations
- 500s: Astronomy, chemistry, physics, biology
- 600s: Electronics, engineering, health, technology
- 900s: Popular biographies, geography, maps, atlases
- Mistakes in selection/acquisition
Categories of Books That Are Not Quickly Outdated
- Dictionaries
- Biographical sources
- Literary criticism
- Classics of literature
- Foreign language literature
- Art books
- Local history/geography
- Books providing general principles of a subject or discipline