Thank you so much to those of you who responded. All the perspectives =20=
and ideas I may not have been thinking about were exactly what I needed =20=
to hear.
Thanks again.
Laura
Here is a compilation of the responses I received about whether or not =20=
to keep a record of weeded books and in what form:
************************************************************************=20=
*******
I've just finished removing about 2,000 titles from my library (no =20
inventory
or weeding in ten years). I started keeping just a short report (using
Follett) of the books that I weeded, then I realized that I'm just =20
making a
stack of papers that will eventually be tossed.
Now, I'm making a short list of subjects that relate to some of the =20
books
that I've weeded rather than printing out the documents. For example, =20=
if
I've weeded 60 titles from science I may have this list:
12 ---- mathematics
11 ---- specific planets (Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Neptune, Saturn)
16 --- zoology (North American animals, dogs, cats, horses)
11 --- plants (Texas, trees of North America)
10 ---fossils
Because most of the titles are outdated, worn, yellow, and unattractive
(thus the reason for removal), I'm not as concerned about what I've =20
weeded
from that standpoint as I am about the subject content that has been =20
removed
from the shelves. Most teachers and students would rather find books =20=
on the
shelves of their subjects than find nothing. Unfortunately, I know that
many of the titles they are trying to use (and have used) are outdated =20=
and
need replacing.
Once you've finished weeding the collection, you can do a calculation
through Follett to determine the number of books you have in each area =20=
and
the age of that section. This will give you an indication of what =20
needs to
be updated. However, unless you allow a company such as Follett or =20
Mackin
do an inventory assessment in your library to determine your "weak =20
areas,"
you may still not know what areas need rebuilding unless you assess what
you've weeded through some type of system.
This is the easiest way for me to quickly create a working list of =20
subject
areas to update (replace) after my weeding. (Oh, my library assistant =20=
will
"have a cow" when she returns to find everything gone...and
re-arranged....but that's another story!) We start school on the =20
14th...but
I never left!
Good luck!
~Shonda Brisco
************************************************************************=20=
*******
Years ago when we still kept paper accession records, we were supposed =20=
to note next to each volume what it's disposition was (lost, discarded, =20=
etc.) but somehow no one ever seemed to have time to go back and record =20=
such info!=A0 DUH...
=A0
IMHO you won't need to keep a record of individual titles you weed out, =20=
just keep track of the number of volumes since that may have to be =20
recorded in a year-end report.=A0 Check your files to see what =
statistics =20
you are required to report at the end of the year and let that be your =20=
guide.
=A0
If your school has items bought with Federal Funds (they should be =20
marked as such...Title VI, Chapt. II or something like that) then you =20=
might have to account for those separately.=A0 Again, check your files =20=
for pertinent paperwork and ask other librarians in your system for =20
help in this regard.
=A0
Best of luck in your new position!
Virginia Y. Martin
************************************************************************=20=
**
I also use Follett and have a patron named Discards. When I need to
discard a book, I check it out, but I put it in a storeroom for a while =20=
to
be sure that I am not discarding a book that I may need, after all. =20
Since
you are brand new to your school, you might want to do that too so you
don't make any enemies right off by discarding someone's favorite book.
What I do gets the books off the shelf quickly, and then later when I =20=
have
time I can do the actual discarding. However, I do not keep a record of
what I discard. Good luck in your new position!
Nancy Dickinson
************************************************************************=20=
**
I also use Follett and I do exactly what you suggested. I check mine =20=
out to
Discards, print the list, and then delete.
I have never needed the list, but I am paranoid about not having some =20=
type
of record.
Elaine
************************************************************************=20=
**
Just remember that you can't please all the people all the time. No
matter how hard you work -- someone will be unhappy. You own happiness
may depend on how you deal with these people. You will be dealing with
individual perceptions -- that have been in process for decades -- and =20=
not
rational decision making.
My point is -- never walk alone into a situation with a potential for
problems, especially as you are just starting in a new school. You =20
might
do a couple of paragraphs summary of the need for weeding and get the
principal to sign off on it. (And yes, I mean a real signature. Or at
least scribbled initials.) You may be surprised to find out how often a
principal may not remember supporting something when faced with an angry
senior teacher. The library can easily become a convenient target =20
when a
teacher has the need to vent about changes at the beginning of the =20
school
year. Your program for library improvement could become a throw away =20=
to
defuse a situation and appease a teacher. (You and I both know that =20
would
be a temporary solution and not solve the problem, but librarians don't
run the schools.)
You need a model ready to go -- that brings the problem of out dated
information and yucky looking books to a personal level. I say =20
something
like -- you know "xyz" subject and have a college degree to prove it.
Your background knowledge allows you to pick and choose with ease from =20=
the
information in a book. Our students do not have an adult's subject
knowledge -- they cannot navigate outdated information with ease. They
need to learn to trust information, we need to provide them with the =20
most
current information that we can. .. You get the idea. It is also =20
helpful
to keep a few samples of really choice OLD information as samples. Good
for a laugh at a presentation or faculty meeting overview.
And naturally do the record keeping too -- your pick and your schools
property rules. My comments are more about the stiletto question that
might be asked at the first faculty meeting. Keep smiling and =20
appreciate
their concern for the continued growth and development of the library.
It is sad to say that stiletto questions are out there. People want to =20=
be
at the top of the pecking order, they want their say, and even maybe =20
they
don't want anyone else to say a word. We're not talking about world =20
peace
and making your school a better place -- just personal power. When you
show that you can deal with their questions (or at least get through it
without the damage showing) -- they will usually find weaker prey in the
future. You can do it -- just be the professional that you were trained
to be. Your students future is in your hands.
Anna M. Sloan
************************************************************************=20=
**
If you have updated to Follett 5.1, it keeps a "weeded" record for you =20=
in
the exception reports. The record is created when you delete your first
record; each subsequent deletion is appended so it's a good idea to =20
rename
the file at a certain point [perhaps the last day of school]. If you =20=
did
that , you would then have a weeded record for each year.
One reason for keeping a record would be for "end of year" reports. =20
That is
one of the questions on our annual report to the state.
Linda
************************************************************************=20=
**
HI, I really don't know why you would need to keep the titles of the =20=
books you weed. I just keep numbers and include that in my quarterly =20=
reports. However I do on occasion keep a few of the books that I weed =20=
from the collection to use when I go to the powers that be to request =20=
funding. I try to keep those that are particularly notable for example =20=
titles like _Someday man will go to the moon_ or the like. I have =20
also kept some that are very tattered, cup up, colored in, moldy, =20
sticky (you get the idea) just to show when I do my care of books =20
lesson.
Pati Daisy
************************************************************************=20=
**
I would love to hear other replies. Personally I started a position =20
before I
was fully certified and was asked by the director to begin weeding as we
were boxing the library for a move that spring. I kept a record of =20
title,
author and reason for weeding...just in case anyone took issue with my =20=
early
weeding decisions.
I still tend to keep a record. I keep the original shelf-list card (as =20=
we
are not automated and make a note about it on the back). Since we aren't
automated it's easy to tell who the last user was by the sign-out card =20=
and I
can offer the discard to a teacher if I see one has used it often or
recently. As another practice I always offer discards to teachers before
donating them to public library or trashing them. This ensures they =20
have an
opportunity to hold on to anything they need in their classroom, but it =20=
is
up to them to come look through the books. If we have room at the time I
leave the box in the faculty room so they have easy access to them.
Debbie Becker
************************************************************************=20=
**
I don't have an answer to your question except to say that I usually
only keep track of Dewey numbers (100's) that I weed. Although if I'm
weeding a particular area that is used but is old, I keep closer track
of what I'm weeding so that I can replace. For example, I had very old
books on the systems of the human body, so I kept a list of titles that
I weeded so that I could purchase more up to date books.
I'm really writing because I had a thought about your idea of creating a
patron named Weeded. If you check books out to this person, you run the
risk of greatly skewing your circulation figures, especially if you weed
a large number of items. I don't have Follett, but rather Mandarin. In
my system I have a number of reports I can run, one of which is a list
of deleted items. Have you checked to see if you can do this instead.
JoAnn Bronschidle
************************************************************************=20=
**
I weeded a lot of books from my last school and it is labor-intensive =20=
but
well worth the time and effort. The shelves look great and the good =20
books
are easier to find.
Originally, I deleted each book individually - this took a great deal of
time - and found that checking books out to a "weeded" patron and then
deleting only once, saved a great deal of time.
First of all, you can print all of the materials checked out to the =20
weeded
patron if you think you might want to keep some type of record. I think =20=
it
helped with statistics and justifying the weeding in case someone =20
questions
it. It also gives you some idea of the areas you need to build up.
Secondly, to delete a file you need to go through several steps =20
including
saying "yes" to the "are you sure you want to do?" this question. If you
have everything in one file, you can select all and then delete only =20
once,
saving many repetitive steps.
Good luck! I'm now going into my second year at a new school and I'm =20
ready
to start weeding again!
Have a good first year.
Pat Markey
************************************************************************=20=
**
Is anyone ever going to want to see the list you create?=A0 It seems to =20=
me that it would be a waste of time.=A0 I made a list the first time I =20=
weeded (1000 books) 5 years ago. Last year I did a ruthless weed and =20
threw away 5000 books. I did not keep a list because no one had asked =20=
to see the old list in 5 years.=A0=A0
=A0
What I did with this weed, to avoid problems of being accused of =20
throwing out "good books", I brought a shopping bag of books home every =20=
few days. I would throw a few books in the bag out every time I would =20=
take out the trash.=A0 I just threw away the last 3 books today, in =20
fact.=A0 I threw away so many books and no one is the wiser.
Sharon
************************************************************************=20=
**
I too use Follett.=A0 When you delete a record, is asks if you want to =
=20
view a report.=A0 Click on yes.=A0 The report is the title and barcode.=A0=
=20
Then save the report in a folder you've created and named.=A0 I have a =20=
folder titled "Deleted books2002-2003.=A0 The you'll have a record, =20
without creating another patron.
Hope this is helpful.
Betty Wolfe
************************************************************************=20=
**
Our Business office requires a list of discarded materials, books or =20
media or equipment. Does yours? Also, are you part of a Union catalog? =20=
We have to send our library system a copy of the records we want =20
deleted. I like to keep a list just to see where I need to replace.
Wow! 2000 that's a lot of work! :-)
Vicki Reutter
************************************************************************=20=
**
I changed schools this year and went from Alexandria to Follett. One of
the things I liked about Alex is that there IS a discarded patron and I =20=
was
able to discard books, run a report and then delete all discarded books
from the system. I weeded over 4000 books from my new location over the
summer - and the only statistic I could keep was the number of books
weeded. I would have loved to have a report that had book records - =20
but I
was not scanning 4000 books twice.... The Follett reps could not tell =20=
me a
way to do what I wanted - if you learn of one please let the rest of us
know! Have fun!!!
Mary Ann Shaffer
************************************************************************=20=
**
DO NOT WEED ANY MORE !!!!!!!!!
I guarantee there will be an old, out of print book that some teacher
has used for 25 years and you will have thrown it out. And then your
name will be mud.
DO NOT WEEK ANYTHING YOUR FIRST YEAR. LIVE WITH IT UNTIL YOU KNOW YOUR
PATRONS!!!!!
Good luck!
Connie
************************************************************************=20=
**
I did exactly that when I weeded my collection this year. My "patron"
was "Weeded, 2003-2004." Be sure to print the list before you start
deleting the titles, as they are deleted from the circulation desk when
you delete the record (this was a DUH! moment for me - fortunately I
realized what I was doing after only five titles). If you are scanning
the books in, it doesn't take that long to scan them twice.
I used this list when I was organizing my book order this summer. It
helped me make sure I was filling in gaps that resulted from weeding.
I hope this helps.
Patsy McLaughlin
************************************************************************=20=
**
Our Winnebago system has us set up specific "material types" for each
part of the collection. For instance, type #2 might be Fiction while
type 63 might be Books lost last year. Perhaps your system will allow
you to do something similar.
We have a material type for books weeded this year in addition to the
usual lost and missing types. When we discard a book or av material we
scan the barcode at the circulation station and choose the menu item
that let's us change the material type to the "weeded" one.
At the end of the year the total number of weeded books shows on my end
of the year report printout. And I print a specific report of just those
weeded books (in order by call number so I can tell which sections
received the most "cleaning" that year since I rarely get to do it all
at once). I put that report in with the rest of this year's e-o-y
reports that I then summarize in a single page report to my principal.
Once all the reports are run it is a simple matter to then tell the
system to delete all items that are material type ##.
I don't check them out to a "weeded patron" because then you have to
check them in again before you can delete the records, which does make
extra work for you.
Melissa Davis
~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~
Laura Given, Media Specialist
Brimhall Elementary School
Roseville, MN
laura.given@rams.roseville.k12.mn.us
~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~=
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