My colleagues and friends talk about weeding their gardens. I share stories of weeding the library collection's nonfiction section. Weeding is a dreaded task among most librarians. They avoid it. They lament having to remove books from the collection. They rationalize why some titles are not weeded. Weeding is good for a library collection. It helps keep information sources current and accurate. It eliminates books that are in poor physical condition. It allows for contemplation of a collection's holes and abundances. Most of all, it keeps the librarian knowledgeable about the titles and subjects in the collection.
This week I have pondered science fair experiments, the planets, holidays, manners, language dictionaries, and social relationships. Many replacement titles were ordered for readers. They will have a more diverse selection of science fair options next year (but gosh, I wish that Mythbusters book was available in hardcover, not just paperback). They will read about the solar system that includes eight official planets, not nine. They will be able to select first language dictionaries that reflect their interests in learning new and foreign words.
It feels good to weed the collection, and my back does not hurt like it would were I bending over in the dirt!
I'd never quite thought of weeding a collection in this way but it's true, you are a gardener of books. Careful removal of a volume here, another there keeps your garden healthy and satisfying to behold.
ReplyDeleteYou are probably dusty, too! When I weed my own collection, I swear only to keep the books I LOVE. But there are many reasons for keeping a book . . .
ReplyDelete