Assignment+4

= Weeding Project =

As part of the collection development, it is important to include weeding into the cycle. All the readings agree that weeding is an essential part of the tasks of a T-L to ensure the collection is current and relevant to its patrons. Bishop notes that "the process of carefully weeding a [library] to remove outdated and unused materials is as important as the process of selection" (2007, pg. 121). The Collection Evaluation & Report from the last assignment has made it clear that weeding is necessary. According to the statistics, many of the materials were outdated and rarely signed out. The average publication dates were from 1998, a good portion of them dating much further back. A criteria is needed to determine which materials to weed.

A team of T-L's in Surrey School District developed a Teacher-Librarian Handbook in 2007. Their opening message states:

// The Teacher-Librarian Handbook is not meant to be prescriptive, but rather, a compilation of promising practice that exists within our district. It is designed to be a resource for both new and experienced Teacher-Librarians to spark conversation and to push toward continuous improvement in our programs and the learning of our students. //

It is a guideline for us to start with whether we are new or experienced so that we have common practices to rely upon. In this handbook, there is a Collection Development section, which includes our practices for weeding:



As we can see, the district follows the CREW method for collection development where Weeding is a vital part of the cycle. The guide followed for weeding is ** MUSTIE **. There is also a suggested guideline for the different subject areas. For Biology 12, we are looking at sections 570-74, 576, 610-612, and 616. According to the 500 section guideline, we should discard materials with obsolete information and theories. For the 600 section, most of the materials become outdated after 5-10 years so there is a need to review constantly. Between MUSTIE and the suggested guidelines, I weeded a total of 88 books and videos. The list below shows the title, publication date, call number, author, reading level and interest level (if available).


 * Life's other secret : the new mathematics of the living world ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 570.1 STE Stewart, Ian, 1945- ||
 * || Published 1998 ||
 * || Interest Level: Adult ||
 * The winking, blinking sea : all about bioluminescence ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 571 BAT Batten, Mary. ||
 * || Published 2000 ||
 * || Reading Level: 5.9 Interest Level: 3-6 ||
 * Cloning ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 571.89 CLO Lisa Yount, book editor. ||
 * || Published 2000 ||
 * || Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * Unraveling DNA : the most important molecule of life ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 572.8 FRA Frank-Kamene︠t︡skiĭ, M. D. ||
 * || Published 1997 ||
 * || Interest Level: Adult ||
 * Baa! : the most interesting book you'll ever read about genes and cloning ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 572.86 NIC Nicolson, Cynthia Pratt. ||
 * || Published 2001 ||
 * || Reading Level: 6.2 Interest Level: 5-8 ||
 * DNA is here to stay ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 572.87 BAL Balkwill, Frances R. ||
 * || Published 1993 ||
 * || Reading Level: 5.5 Interest Level: 3-6 ||
 * The Human dawn ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 573.2 HUM by the editors of Time-Life Books. ||
 * || Published 1990 ||
 * || Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * ** Techniques for the study of biological structure and function ** ||
 * ** [ Book ] ** || ** Call #: 574 CAN Cantor, Charles R., 1942- ** ||
 * || ** Published 1980 ** ||
 * ** Biology ** ||
 * ** [ Book ] ** || ** Call #: 574 CUR Curtis, Helena. ** ||
 * || ** Published 1983 ** ||
 * Life, the science of biology ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 574 PUR Purves, William K. (William Kirkwood), 1934- ||
 * || Published 1992 ||
 * ** Biology ** ||
 * ** [ Book ] ** || ** Call #: 574 SOL Eldra Pearl Solomon ... [et al.]. ** ||
 * || ** Published 1993 ** ||
 * Biology : concepts and applications ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 574 STA Starr, Cecie. ||
 * || Published 1991 ||
 * Student study guide for Campbell's biology ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 574 TAY Taylor, Martha R. ||
 * || Published 1996 ||
 * Biology for every kid : 101 easy experiments that really work ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 574 VAN VanCleave, Janice Pratt. ||
 * || Published 1989 ||
 * || Reading Level: 6.6 Interest Level: 5-8 ||
 * Biology ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 574.023 SPE Speed, F.M. ||
 * || Published 1993 ||
 * Janice VanCleave's A+ projects in biology : winning experiments for science fairs and extra credit. ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 574.078 VAN VanCleave, Janice Pratt. ||
 * || Published 1993 ||
 * || Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * Principles of biochemistry ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 574.19 LEH Lehninger, Albert L. ||
 * || Published 1993 ||
 * ** The Body machine : your health in perspective ** ||
 * ** [ Book ] ** || ** Call #: 610 BOD Christiaan Barnard, consultant editor, John Illman, co-ordinating editor. ** ||
 * || ** Published 1981 ** ||
 * || ** Interest Level: Young Adult ** ||
 * The encyclopedia of alternative health & natural remedies. ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 610 ENC ||
 * || Published 1996 ||
 * ** The skeleton : fantastic framework ** ||
 * ** [ Book ] ** || ** Call #: 611 GOL Goldberg, Kathy E. (Kathy Ellen), 1953- ** ||
 * || ** Published 1982 ** ||
 * Our bodies ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 611 HOR Horton, Casey. ||
 * || Published 1997 ||
 * || Reading Level: 3.5 Interest Level: 3-6 ||
 * ** The human body. ** ||
 * ** [ Book ] ** || ** Call #: 611 HUM Kramer, Ann, ed. ** ||
 * || ** Published 1987 ** ||
 * Some body! ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 611 ROW Rowan, Peter. ||
 * || Published 1995 ||
 * || Reading Level: 5.1 Interest Level: 5-8 ||
 * The Macmillan book of the human body ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612 ELT Elting, Mary, 1909- ||
 * || Published 1986 ||
 * || Reading Level: 6.2 Interest Level: 3-6 ||
 * Human body. ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612 HUM ||
 * || Published 1992 ||
 * || Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * The human body explained : a guide to understanding the incredible living machine ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612 HUM Philip Whitfield, general editor. ||
 * || Published 1995 ||
 * Incredible voyage : exploring the human body ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612 INC prepared by the Book Division, National Geographic Society. ||
 * || Published 1998 ||
 * || Interest Level: Adult ||
 * Intimate universe : the human body ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612 SMI Smith, Anthony. ||
 * || Published 1998 ||
 * || Interest Level: Adult ||
 * Spontaneous healing : how to discover and enhance your body's natural ability to maintain and heal itself ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612 WEI Weil, Andrew. ||
 * || Published 1995 ||
 * || Interest Level: Adult ||
 * ** The circulatory system ** ||
 * ** [ Book ] ** || ** Call #: 612.1 AVR Avraham, Regina. ** ||
 * || ** Published 1989 ** ||
 * || ** Reading Level: 7.2 Interest Level: Young Adult ** ||
 * The circulatory system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.1 SIL Silverstein, Alvin. ||
 * || Published 1994 ||
 * || Reading Level: 7.5 Interest Level: 5-8 ||
 * The heart : our circulatory system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.1 SIM Simon, Seymour. ||
 * || Published 2006 ||
 * || Reading Level: 6.2 Interest Level: 3-6 ||
 * The respiratory system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.2 KIT Kittredge, Mary, 1949- ||
 * || Published 1989 ||
 * || Reading Level: 7.6 Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * The respiratory system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.2 SIL Silverstein, Alvin. ||
 * || Published 1994 ||
 * || Reading Level: 7.5 Interest Level: 5-8 ||
 * The digestive system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.3 AVR Avraham, Regina. ||
 * || Published 1989 ||
 * || Reading Level: 7.7 Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * The digestive system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.3 AVR Avraham, Regina. ||
 * || Published 2000 ||
 * || Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * The digestive system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.3 SIL Silverstein, Alvin. ||
 * || Published 1994 ||
 * || Reading Level: 7.5 Interest Level: 5-8 ||
 * The endocrine system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.4 LIT Little, Marjorie. ||
 * || Published 2001 ||
 * || Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * The endocrine system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.4 LIT Little, Marjorie. ||
 * || Published 1990 ||
 * || Reading Level: 8.7 Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * The excretory system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.4 SIL Silverstein, Alvin. ||
 * || Published 1994 ||
 * || Reading Level: 7.5 Interest Level: 5-8 ||
 * The reproductive system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.6 AVR Avraham, Regina. ||
 * || Published 2001 ||
 * || Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * The reproductive system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.6 AVR Avraham, Regina. ||
 * || Published 1991 ||
 * || Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * Aging ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.6 EDE Edelson, Edward, 1932- ||
 * || Published 1991 ||
 * || Reading Level: 8.1 Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * Period : a girl's guide to menstruation : with a parent's guide ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.6 LOU Loulan, JoAnn. ||
 * || Published 2001 ||
 * || Reading Level: 8.0 Interest Level: 5-8 ||
 * Everything you need to know about getting your period ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.6 RUE Rue, Nancy N. ||
 * || Published 1995 ||
 * || Reading Level: 5.8 Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * The reproductive system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.6 SIL Silverstein, Alvin. ||
 * || Published 1994 ||
 * || Reading Level: 6.9 Interest Level: 5-8 ||
 * The what's happening to my body? book for boys : a growing-up guide for parents and sons ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.66 MAD Madaras, Lynda. ||
 * || Published 2007 ||
 * The muscular system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.7 SIL Silverstein, Alvin. ||
 * || Published 1994 ||
 * || Reading Level: 6.5 Interest Level: 5-8 ||
 * The skeletal system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.7 SIL Silverstein, Alvin. ||
 * || Published 1994 ||
 * || Reading Level: 6.9 Interest Level: 5-8 ||
 * The brain ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.8 BAR Barmeier, Jim. ||
 * || Published 1996 ||
 * || Reading Level: 5.8 Interest Level: 5-8 ||
 * The nervous system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.8 EDE Edelson, Edward, 1932- ||
 * || Published 1991 ||
 * || Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * Sleep ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.8 EDE Edelson, Edward, 1932- ||
 * || Published 1992 ||
 * || Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * The senses ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.8 KIT Kittredge, Mary, 1949- ||
 * || Published 1990 ||
 * || Reading Level: 7.5 Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * Touch, taste, and smell ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.8 PAR Parker, Steve, 1952- ||
 * || Published 1989 ||
 * || Reading Level: 6.1 Interest Level: 3-6 ||
 * The Scientific American book of the brain ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.8 SCI the editors of Scientific American ; introduction by Antonio Damasio. ||
 * || Published 1999 ||
 * || Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * The nervous system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 612.8 SIL Silverstein, Alvin. ||
 * || Published 1994 ||
 * || Reading Level: 6.9 Interest Level: 5-8 ||
 * B.C. health guide : helping you & your family stay healthy ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 613 BCH Kemper, Donald W. ||
 * || Published 2000 ||
 * Your body : the girls' guide ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 613 BRO Brody, Janis. ||
 * || Published 2000 ||
 * || Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * Changing body : a young person's guide to puberty. ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 613 CHA ||
 * || Published 1993 ||
 * Germs Bill Nye ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: 616 GER ||
 * The complete Canadian health guide. ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 616.02 ENG ||
 * || Published 1993 ||
 * The immune system ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 616.07 EDE Edelson, Edward, 1932- ||
 * || Published 1989 ||
 * || Reading Level: 8.9 Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * Alexander Fleming : conquering disease with penicillin ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 616.092 FLE Otfinoski, Steven. ||
 * || Published 1992 ||
 * || Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * 8 ways to lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 616.1 EIG content provided by Mayo Clinic Health Information. ||
 * || Published 2001 ||
 * || Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * Heart disease ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 616.1 SHE Sheen, Barbara. ||
 * || Published 2004 ||
 * || Reading Level: 7.9 Interest Level: 5-8 ||
 * Heart disease ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 616.1 SIL Silverstein, Alvin. ||
 * || Published 2006 ||
 * || Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * Sickle cell anemia ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 616.1 SIL Silverstein, Alvin. ||
 * || Published 1997 ||
 * || Interest Level: Young Adult ||
 * 100 questions & answers about kidney disease and hypertension ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 616.1 TOW Townsend, Raymond R. ||
 * || Published 2009 ||
 * || Interest Level: Adult ||
 * Sickle cell disease ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 616.152 JON Jones, Phill, 1953- ||
 * || Published 2008 ||
 * Hemophilia ||
 * [ Book ] || Call #: 616.157 RAA Raabe, Michelle. ||
 * || Published 2008 ||
 * The living cell an introduction. ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: VID 571.6 LIV ||
 * || Published 1975 ||
 * The Genetic code and its translation ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: VID 574.8 GEN BioMedia Associates. ||
 * || Published 2001 ||
 * BiologiX: translation and protein synthesis ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: VID 574.87 BIO ||
 * ** The cell and energy. ** ||
 * ** [ Film/Video ] ** || ** Call #: VID 574.87 CEL ** ||
 * || ** Published 1988 ** ||
 * Cracking the code of life ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: VID 574.87 CRA ||
 * Energy flow at the cellular level. ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: VID 574.87 ENE ||
 * || Published 1985 ||
 * Metabolism and nutrition ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: VID 574.87 MET ||
 * || Published 1988 ||
 * The cell-structural unit of life. ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: VID 574.87 THE ||
 * || Published 1976 ||
 * Life under pressure. ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: VID 611.1 LIF ||
 * || Published 1986 ||
 * Digestion : eating to live. ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: VID 611.3 DIG ||
 * || Published 1986 ||
 * Making Sense of Our Senses ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: VID 612 MAK ||
 * Skin it's structure and function. ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: VID 612.7 SKI ||
 * || Published 1983 ||
 * Nerves at work ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: VID 612.8 NER ||
 * || Published 1986 ||
 * ** The senses : skin deep. ** ||
 * ** [ Film/Video ] ** || ** Call #: VID 612.8 SEN ** ||
 * || ** Published 1986 ** ||
 * Human immune system ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: VID 616.07 HUM ||
 * On the eighth day perfecting mother nature : ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: VID 616.6 ONT ||
 * Song of Superman ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: VID 616.97 SON ||
 * || Published 2002 ||
 * ** Youth & HIV/Aids : [Videorecording]. ** ||
 * ** [ Film/Video ] ** || ** Call #: VID 616.97 YOU ** ||
 * Song of Superman ||
 * [ Film/Video ] || Call #: VID 616.97 SON ||
 * || Published 2002 ||
 * ** Youth & HIV/Aids : [Videorecording]. ** ||
 * ** [ Film/Video ] ** || ** Call #: VID 616.97 YOU ** ||
 * ** [ Film/Video ] ** || ** Call #: VID 616.97 YOU ** ||

Top Ten Weeded Materials:
From the set of 88, I chose ten to make into a Voicethread slideshow to explain why I weeded them. Please view the Voicethread below,

media type="custom" key="19896680"

Removing Weeded Materials from the Library:
Before disposing the resources, the books and videos need to be removed from the online Destiny Library Catalogue. The process is outlined in the Destiny Library Manager Training Workbook - Teacher-Librarian/Clerk Edition. There is also a Website outlining the same procedures. The copies can be deleted individually under the Catalog tab then the Update Copies section. As each item is deleted, it can also be tracked as weeded. This way, there is a record and the list can be viewed any time at a later date via the Weeding Log option in Reports.



The T-L handbook suggests three options for disposing the weeded material. For the materials that I weeded, I would not give them to teachers for classroom use as there would not be enough copies for each student for every topic and the materials are outdated, averaging between 1980-1990. The annual district swap meet is an option. Teachers from all over the district go to these swap meets to find resources that they may want to use in their classroom that others do not. And when it is all done, the remaining books would be recycled. Not all the books would be sent to the swap meet - only the ones that are just older but still relevant in information. Finally the remaining books will be recycled or shredded. We pack up the unusable items into boxes to be picked up for shredding.

Reflection:
I started the project by looking at the bottom 50 books in the 570-574, 576, 610-612 and 616 sections using the top/bottom titles options in the online Destiny Library Catalogue. Afterwards, I went and personally looked at the books listed. I agreed with some of the books but not all of them. Some of them are recent additions and have yet to be used. Some books are used while classes are in the library so that information is not reflected in the system. Finally, so many books were never checked out within the last couple of years that I could not rely on the bottom 50 as my starting point. This approach confused me tremendously.

After my failed attempt, I decided to go all in and just look at every book individually. I went to the shelves and took every book keeping in mind of the reasons listed in Bishop:


 * Poor physical condition
 * Unattractive appearance
 * Poor circulation record (to be determined afterwards)
 * Old copyright date, with outdated or inaccurate information
 * Duplicates of titles no longer in demand
 * Subject matter unsuitable for users
 * Topics no longer of interest
 * Biased or stereotypical portrayals
 * Inappropriate reading levels
 * No longer needed because of a change in the curriculum

(2007, pg. 121)

I also took into account of MUSTIE as suggested by the Surrey Teacher-Librarian Handbook. A lot of the resources were Superseded by newer editions, Ugly in appearance and Irrelevant to the needs and interests of my community. These guidelines helped me pick out books to be weeded but at the same time, I felt that I was eliminating the collection. I took so many books off the shelf that it started to look really bare. That emptiness picked at my conscience. Then I started to wonder whether I made the right choice in the books I decided to weed. At one point, I could not decide whether to keep or discard because I would have no more books on that topic but at the same time, I knew the books were outdated and not used.

This was a major challenge for me. How was I to know whether I made the right choice or not? Weeding became overwhelming and scary. I felt a lot better after reading the Weeding Chapter in Doll & Barron's Managing and Analyzing your Collection: A Practical Guide for Small Libraries and School Library Media Centers. This is especially true when reading the Barriers to Weeding section. The one I related to the most was number 5, "I hate to admit that I made a mistake in selecting this item" (2002, pg. 66). The casual response of "So what?" made me feel so much better. We are human and mistakes do occur. As T-L's, we make those judgments depending on variable factors and these factors may change later on. They also referred to weeding as "collection renewal" (pg. 60) to bring a more positive connotation explaining that "[l]ibrary collections should always be evolving to reflect changes in the information needs of its users and changes in the information itself. Weeding affords librarians the opportunity to reevaluate their collections" (pg. 59). In essence, I understand that it is a good opportunity to look at my collection closely and see what I can do to improve it. Those improvements can be removing items that are no longer useful to students. In fact, these outdated resources may prevent students from using other good materials because they feel that all the resources are not relevant based on a few that are bad.

The next time, I would not use the bottom 50 books option as a starting point. I would take one small section at a time and review the books and videos slowly throughout the year. This way, it does not seem like I am weeding a lot of books at once so I do not feel overwhelmed and guilty. 88 books and videos do not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of things but it does make an impression on a small shelf. Once the weeding has completed a cycle, then the next time I return to that section, the process would be easier.

References:
Bishop, K., & Orden, P. (2007). //The collection program in schools: concepts, practices, and information sources (4th ed.)//. Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited.

//Destiny Library Manager Training Workbook: Teacher Librarian/Clerk Edition// (2011). Surrey: Follett Software Company and Surrey School District 36.

Doll, C. A., & Barron, P. P. (2002).//Managing and analyzing your collection: a practical guide for small libraries and school media centers.// Chicago: American Library Association. Retrieved Jun 27, 2012, from <[|http://books.google.ca/books?id=3Ww4gsFiwfkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=weeding+school+library+collections&source=bl&ots=Q6_QoUJJQ2&sig=2tL9UcBhbu7YIUJOaNNI_1UIM7M&hl=en&ei=cQLyS-S5G4S2No3FiPkN&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CCYQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=weeding&f=false]>

//Teacher-Librarian Handbook//. (2007).School District No.36 (Surrey). Retrieved June 25, 2012, from 