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Less is More: A Practical Guide to Weeding School Library Collections
Important.
Weeding can be a daunting challenge, especially without guidance or help. To make weeding part of a library's ongoing procedures, it's best to do it in manageable doses.
Now school and children's librarians nationwide can reap the benefit of Florida's popular Weed of the Month program. Updating some of that program s earliest recommendations, this new comprehensive weeding guide from the same experts, is like a friendly mentor ready to assist librarians on one of their more onerous tasks.
This user-friendly guide:
* Explains the ins and outs, including why weeding is such an important task.
* Outlines the steps to get started.
* Breaks weeding criteria down by over 70 topics and Dewey Numbers so the task isn't overwhelming.
* Clarifies how to use automation tools in weeding.
* Outlines considerations when upgrading collections.
Simple, practical advice along with specific criteria for weeding the school library collection means specialists in public and private schools, as well as children's and young adult librarians will improve collections following these quick and easy guidelines.
Weeding can be a daunting challenge, especially without guidance or help. To make weeding part of a library's ongoing procedures, it's best to do it in manageable doses.
Now school and children's librarians nationwide can reap the benefit of Florida's popular Weed of the Month program. Updating some of that program s earliest recommendations, this new comprehensive weeding guide from the same experts, is like a friendly mentor ready to assist librarians on one of their more onerous tasks.
This user-friendly guide:
* Explains the ins and outs, including why weeding is such an important task.
* Outlines the steps to get started.
* Breaks weeding criteria down by over 70 topics and Dewey Numbers so the task isn't overwhelming.
* Clarifies how to use automation tools in weeding.
* Outlines considerations when upgrading collections.
Simple, practical advice along with specific criteria for weeding the school library collection means specialists in public and private schools, as well as children's and young adult librarians will improve collections following these quick and easy guidelines.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 30, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 3, 2016
A common sense refresher to a library program's collection management class. Various dewey numbers, fiction, and reference are addressed. Also includes a bibliography and and appendix titled "GENERAL WEEDING CRITERIA BY DEWEY CLASSIFICATION" which is a quick-look tool when weeding actually begins.
November 2, 2019
Not the best book on the subject of weeding I've encountered, but not the worst either. Though the focus is on academic libraries, specifically school libraries for the K-12 range, the principles here can be used and modified for public and private use. It's nice that it breaks down the Dewey classification one shelf at a time, but it only dedicates one page to these areas and vague summaries of do's and do not's. There were also moments where I found myself squinting at the text, wondering if the book was as out of date as the books it was recommending to weed. Still, if you want a place to start and a more thorough analysis of shelf-by-shelf weeding, this is an okay book to use.
Edit: For further reason to perhaps find an updated book on this topic, of the two pages of links listed at the end of the book, only five links still work.
Edit: For further reason to perhaps find an updated book on this topic, of the two pages of links listed at the end of the book, only five links still work.
March 19, 2020
As someone who has never been formally trained in weeding, someone suggested this book to me as a good place to start. It *was* published in 2006, BUT it really is a good place for me to start, especially since my collection has non-fiction titles dating back to the 1950s.
The first 23 pages are why and how you should read, then p. 24-167 are what you should be looking for to weed from non-fiction, fiction, reference, etc.
My favorite part was the appendex, which is still very useful and helpful for modern day.
The first 23 pages are why and how you should read, then p. 24-167 are what you should be looking for to weed from non-fiction, fiction, reference, etc.
My favorite part was the appendex, which is still very useful and helpful for modern day.
May 9, 2023
After completing an online "Weeding for Success" workshop, I thought picking up Less is More would serve as a handy guide to keep in the office, and it has over the past year or so. Although the weeding guidelines by age and circulation are dated (newer guidelines are on online), the considerations and criteria are solid.
October 25, 2016
Useful information in general but probably not the best resource to use when weeding in 2016 (pub date of my edition is 2006).
February 1, 2019
A good primer on weeding. Good examples of titles and options presented in how to go about weeding a collection. I know I’ll refer back to this as I learn this skill.
November 22, 2012
Many good suggestions for weeding a school library. Although the book is useful for school libraries everywhere in the United States, its origins in Florida are somewhat evident. I am reminded, though, that a school librarian must stay abreast of current events and knowledge and be in tune with his or her particular student population and locale in order to maintain the best possible collection for its needs and intellectual growth.
July 1, 2013
An easier version of the CREW manual.
July 3, 2015
Read for my MLS class on collection development- very straight-forward. Easy to understand
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews