1. Oh What a Tangled Web We Weed: A Project Using Voyager Reports
Thedis W. Bryant, Collection Development &
Acquisitions Librarian
Mark Ellis, Serials Librarian
James Pendergrast Memorial Library
Albany State University

2. WHY WEED?
Responsible librarians must weed as part of the total selection and evaluation process.
To provide a more appealing, more up-to-date collection.
To replace or remove material that my be worn out physically.
To make the library easier for patrons and staff to use.
To provide reliable information.

3. Why It Doesn’t Get Done? “It takes too much time.”
“I can’t bear to throw away books.”
“I’m worried that someone will get upset if I get rid of
anything.”
“If I toss it today, I’ll need it tomorrow.”
“If I weed, I won’t have enough books.”
“Weeding means admitting to mistakes.”
(1976 CREW manual, pp 19-20; 1995 CREW manual, pp )

4. American Library Association Weeding Standards for College Libraries
“Obsolete materials such as outmoded books, superseded editions, incomplete sets of longer works, broken files of un-indexed journals, superfluous duplicates, and worn out or badly marked volumes should be continuously weeded, with the advice of
faculty members concerned.”

5. The Forensic Science Project
Produce a Master Plan
Develop the Methodology
Determine Size of Core Collection
Establish Cut-off Date
Relegate and Relocate Materials
Reconsider the Policy Document

6. The Forensic Science Project
Produce a Master Plan
Develop the Methodology
Determine Size of Core Collection
Establish Cut-off Date
Relegate and Relocate Materials
Reconsider the Policy Document

7. Record with Status Message

8. Another Record

9. Weeding Flow Chart

10. Query Table Design

11. Query Build (1)

12. Query Build (2)

13. Project Summary Need responsible staff to assist with the project.
Use inventory sheets to order replacement
books.
Discretion may be needed for withdrawn
books which are historical, etc.

14. References
Boon, Belinda, and Joseph P. Segal. The CREW Method: Expanded Guidelines for Collection Evaluation and Weeding for Small and Medium Sized Public Libraries. Austin, TX: Texas State Library, 1995.
Gorman, G.E. and B.R. Howes. Collection Development for Libraries. London: Bowker-Saur, 1989.
Western Massachusetts Regional Library. Weeding the Library Collection.