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| SPOTLIGHT
ON THE LIBRARY |
| JULY
2004
With the heavy rainfall this spring, the plants, especially the
weeds, grew at a record pace. Weeding the book collection in the library
is as about as much fun as weeding your garden. Yet it is a necessary
task to make it easier to find books. Librarians would love to keep
every book purchased, but there is just not enough space.
In preparation for the computerized circulation system and barcoding,
I spent two hours every morning in 1995 and 1996 weeding in the stacks.
I discarded 4,996 fiction books and 5,460 nonfiction books. I thought I
would not have to face the task again, but weeding is an ongoing
process.
During a recent library tour, a person asked, "How do you
determine which books to keep and which ones to discard?" That’s
a good question and there are professional articles written about it.
Librarians use guidelines like The CREW Manual. The method called
CREW (Continuous Review, Evaluation and Weeding) outlines factors to
consider in weeding. One set of factors is MUSTY (librarians love
acronyms). M=Misleading and/or factually inaccurate. U=Ugly and worn or
damaged (I believe the beverage of choice is coffee as indicated by
brown stains). S=Superseded by a new edition of a better book on the
subject. T=Trivial with no discernible literary or scientific merit.
Y=Your community has no interest in this book (like casting your vote
for the American Idol).
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This
"Spotlight on the Library" article was written by Mary Jacobs,
the David A. Howe Public Library director. Articles are written and published monthly in the
Wellsville Daily Reporter.
Click on a
date below to read an article from the archive.
Click here to
read the Wellsville Daily
Reporter online
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| Using these and other
standard guidelines, I spent this past winter and spring weeding books
in the stacks. I withdrew about 750 oversize books (nonfiction over
11inches in height). I’m currently weeding fiction and will finish the
project in the summer. We also moved all the nonfiction, reference
books, periodicals and mysteries. We lowered the highest shelves and
raised the lowest shelves. Books that were turned sideways and jammed
together are neatly arranged with space to expand. Volunteers and staff
are checking the shelves to assure the books are in order.
With thousands of discarded books and gift books from the public,
this year’s book sale will be HUGE. You will have the chance to
purchase duplicate copies of older bestsellers and classics, worn but
readable books, fiction and nonfiction, paperbacks and books on tape.
All hardcover books are one dollar. The book sale opens on Balloon Rally
Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and continues during regular business
hours until August 13. Any books left are sold at the bargain price of
"all you can carry for one dollar" August 16 – 20.
Every year children are delighted with the dandelions in the front lawn.
They pick them and are pleased to give the bouquets to the library
staff. You know the old cliché. Come to the used book sale and find
some of your own treasures. |
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This page was last updated
December 22, 2005. |
