A Weeding Frenzy

This week in my little temp library job at a small college library, I have been charged with weeding the business collection. Of course it goes without saying I am a lover of weeding! I just love culling the dead wood in a collection. I think it makes the newer stuff look nicer. I also (without fail!) find or re-discover something and go "wow".
Although weeding is second nature for me in my public library, I wanted to be conservative since I am the temp and I am a newbie at academic librarianship. Different collections and a different service mission translate into different weeding criteria. So how do you weed a collection when you don't know the collection or the users that well or feel comfortable with the task? Try this:

• Pull obvious condition "issues".
• Pull anything that is over ten years that could have a currency issue. (No, I don't mean fiction or humanities/art materials.)
• Take a look at circulation or use stats.
• Have another person review and discuss the choices.
• Consider options: other sources of information, redundant databases, government information, web sites, etc.
• Cart and let it sit for at least 24 hours. This should catch any impulsive decisions.

Experienced weeders might find this a bit cumbersome, but if you are new at a collection or at a new library with different clientele play it safe by giving yourself some wiggle room. Your fellow staffers will be more likely to "turn you loose" if you tell them you will abide by some self imposed standards like the above.

And of course if you turn up something perfectly appalling or funny, I would love to feature it on Awful Library books!

Weed away!
Mary

October: Think about Reader Advisory!

October is one of my favorite times of year. Kids and school have hit a nice routine. I have been on a mystery kick and have particularly liked Stieg Larsson's books. I think it is time for me to try some more of those Swedish mysteries that have been on my to-do list forever!

Reader advisory is one of those areas of librarianship a public librarian has to work at constantly. Reading as a duty? Yes, and not just the stuff you like. As a librarian, it is important to sample constantly from the buffet of fiction and nonfiction. Not a big fan of science fiction? Not a lover of Fantasy or Christian/Inspirational fiction? Too bad. It is time to suck it up and do your job! As book pros, we have to be able to talk about all kinds of titles, not just our "favorites".

Okay, now that you have agreed to try, where do you start? Go slowly. By now you should now the most popular authors in your library and if you don't, start checking holds and circ numbers for those titles and genres. Ask around for a favorite or two and stay away from series. Amazon can also be a big help in identifying the new hot stuff of a particular genre. Pick one or two and start there. Not all of it will be fun or interesting to you, but try and think of a patron or two that might like this title. Stick to new stuff as much as possible as this puts you ahead of the curve.

People like books for many reasons, but most likely they will be drawn toward the plot, setting, or characters. This is usually true regardless of the genre. Plot oriented people will use words like fast-paced. Setting people will like where the story takes place (generally) or the period of time (think historical fiction with a lot of detail or the use of the word "research"). Character folks are probably the hardest to nail down. They need the person's personality or character to be the main focus of the story.

So use October as your month of something new to read or try. You might be surprised at your next chance to book talk a new title.

Mary