Re: Weeding justification

[Robert Eiffert <beiffert@COMCAST.NET>]

One problem with the 'don't weed primary sources' justification is that it
only covers old material in your library. So, how do you cover other
periods, say  1970's, 1920's, or 1890's that had other different POV's,
prejudices, or ideas of historical correctness?

Or how do you cover the need for such primary sources if you have the bad
luck of having to open a new library?

And, to paraphrase my dad, 'It's an antique chair because it was
uncomfortable and never used.'

Robert Eiffert, Librarian
Pacific Middle School
Evergreen SD 114 Vancouver WA
beiffert@egreen.wednet.edu
pac.egreen.wednet.edu/library
robert@crypticmachinery.net




-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Laura Pearle
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 3:10 PM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Weeding justification


At 09:26 AM 2/4/2004, you wrote:
>Hello,
>                 I wanted to send out a cautionary note regarding
>weeding  your = collection of all "sexist, racist, inaccurate" or
>outdated materials.  = At a certain point, these may become primary
>resources.  I once had a = book on marraige from the 1950's.  I thought
>that I kept it, but I don't = see it on the shelf anymore.  It was a
>superb source of showing what was = expected of women in that era.  If
>you have a great number of item of = this type, you might need to
>establish a separate category of some sort. =
>  Any thoughts on this subject?

I agree.  The other cavaet is that some works have not been updated
("Negro-American Slave Revolts" springs to mind) and without them there
would be a lack of information.  It's a good "teachable moment".  I always
tell my students to look at the copyright date if the language seems odd, it
could be that the book was written at a time when that terminology was what
was used.

One book I use to illustrate the way things change is Snyder's "The Egypt
Game".  In the book I recently pulled from the shelves, a character is
described as being "colored".  In the more recent version, she's
"African-American".


Laura Pearle
Head Librarian
Gladys Brooks Library
Professional Children's School
lpearle@pcs-nyc.org

"There are three types of people:  the "glass half full" group, the "glass
half empty" group, and the group looking for someone to blame for spilling
the glass in the first place." - Cleveland Amory

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