Here is my orginal posting. Thank you for sharing your opinions.
I have been slowly weeding sections in the library that have never been touched in
over 40 years. In addition to outdated materials, I have been removing old material
that is no longer part of our curriculum. An example would be books on foreign
countries with 1960s copyright, old music books, national parks books, regions of
the United States, etc. We
have great databases that are used all the time and provide current information. I
don't know if I should replace these books? Should I be concerned about major gaps
in my collection. My budget is very limited and I like to spend it on fiction,
biographies and graphic novels, where my circulation is very high. Thanks for the
help.
__________________________
Just a word of support. I no longer support the curriculum or reference with
library book purchases. I buy nonfiction, but only if I think someone would 'enjoy'
reading it.
__________________________________
All of our students have school issued laptops and we have several databases as
well. I use my money to buy what the students are reading; fiction and graphic
novels. I've really cut back on purchasing reference and books for research
projects, simply because they don't use them anymore.
____________
Consider what happens when the computers aren't working or aren't available. I'd
say you need _something_ in print for the various countries, but you certainly
don't have to replicate the database. A print set of CultureGrams would probably
take care of your country needs.
________________________
too felt so guilty.I weeded aggressively 7 years ago. I weed 65% of the non
fiction collection. I didn't replace the books and they haven't been missed . 99.9
of my circulation (over 300 books a day), is fiction. I did buy non fiction books,
but mostly books like,PT109,Ghost Soldiers, D-Day, etc. They go out all the time.
__________________________________
Like you, I inherited an ancient collection when I started at my middle school.
This is my 5th year and after TONS of weeding, we are finally approaching an
acceptable age-range but have less than 10 books per student, which I've been
working on changing. I really think it is imperative to spend a large portion of
my book budget on books that are related to our curriculum. For me, it's not just
about how many items circulate, rather the need to support our students and staff
by having curriculum-related books readily available. I get most of my fiction
books through our 2 annual book fairs.
_________________________________
Your decision-making makes sense to me. I have had those same thoughts, but I have
decided not to worry about gaps, thanks to databases. I keep some of those areas
lightly filled, but concentrate on updated print resources that are used for big
projects (diseases, civilizations, religions, opposing viewpoints, careers,
artists, etc.) and for teachers who like the kids to use print as well as
electronic resources. They know that those resources in combination teach a
valuable lesson about reliability of information. I like the young teachers who
are coming in as the first generation of "new library users" and are eager to pass
along to their students what they know about print and electronic...that both are
equally valuable and work best in tandem. I also tend to push money to the
high-circulation areas like you do. So I guess if it was moral support you needed,
this is it. I would say keep doing what you're doing.
____________________________
Nancy O'Donnell
Library Media Specialist
Hoover Middle School
247 Thorncliff Rd.
Buffalo, New York 14223
odonn247@roadrunner.com
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