Re: GEN: Special suggestion/request

[Karen Becknell <becknellk@voyager.net>]

I like Mike's idea, last year, I weeded my science collections and got
extra funds from one principal.  If you have an automated system, it is
really quite easy.  I ran collection statistics by copyright date.
Printed out the results (condensed = 50 titles/page)  I then took the
resulting stack and gave it to my principal.  It was great!  He was
apalled, and wasted no time finding funds.  It really made an impression
when I took the offending materials off the shelves.  Bare, bare, bare.
The resulting funding in no way served to replace what was withdreawn,
but it was a start.  I'm working on my new school, now.

  But you know what bothers me?  The difficulty I have getting good
information on what is outdated information is the science areas.  Is
there a formulae for deciding when scientific information should be
replaced?  The obvious topics are no problem.  Its stuff like mosses, or
seashore life, or...

Any suggestions?

Karen Becknell
Media Specialist
The Lamphere Schools
Madison Heights, MI
becknellk@hiller.lamphere.k12.mi.us



Mike Eisenberg wrote:
>
> You know what really bugs me?
>
> Hearing about library collections that have books on the shelves about the
> space program or astronomy that were written before we put a man on the
> moon!
>
> How many times have we heard this?  I say enough!!
>
> Here's what I suggest/request: let's start a worldwide movement:
> the "global let's get rid of outdated space/astronomy books challenge."
>
> Here's all you have to do:
>
> 1 - Go check your space/astronomy materials and immediate discard any
> outdated ones--especially any written before 1969, but I suggest a more
> recent weeding date.  Sure, you can keep these somewhere in a back room as
> a momento if you really want to.
>
> 2 - As soon as possible, order at least one new resource (print, media or
> electronic) in the space/astronomy area.  If you don't have any funds,
> show the outdated/discarded materials to your school administrator or
> library board or someone with authority to provide funding to replace the
> outdated/discarded materials.
>
> 3 - Spread the word.  Tell other librarians about this -- school, public,
> academic, special -- and urge them to do the same.
>
> That's it!! Trust me - you'll feel good about this.
>
> Mike
>
>           *==========================================================*
>           |       Mike Eisenberg   <mike@ericir.syr.edu>             |
>           |      Professor, School of Information Studies            |
>           | Director, ERIC Clearinghouse on Information & Technology |
>           |         4-216 Center for Science and Technology          |
>           |      Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-4100        |
>           |        Phone: 315/443-4549   Fax: 315/443-5448           |
>           *==========================================================*