Evaluating Academic Library Collections Evaluating Academic Library Collections in the Age of Expedience: in the Age of Expedience: Presented by: Jen Fabbi University of Nevada Las Vegas Libraries For the Professional Development Forum of the Mountain Plains Library Association November 6, 2003 Weeding with a New Tool
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Evaluating Academic Library Collections in the Age of Expedience: Presented by: Jen Fabbi University of Nevada Las Vegas Libraries For the Professional.
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Evaluating Academic Library Collections in the Evaluating Academic Library Collections in the Age of Expedience:Age of Expedience:
Presented by:
Jen Fabbi
University of Nevada Las Vegas Libraries
For the Professional Development Forum of the Mountain Plains Library
Association
November 6, 2003
Weeding with a New Tool
“Someday, we may go to the moon!”
Stanley Slote (1997)Weeding Library Collections:Library Weeding Methods
Serious problems in academic libraries, due to rapid growth and critical space shortages
Image of protectors and collectors of knowledge
Emphasis on numbers in determining value
Stanley Slote (1997):Other Barriers to Weeding
Professional work pressures
Public displeasure at discarded books
Perceived sacredness
Conflicting evaluation criteria
Shelf-time Period
The amount of time a book remains on the shelf between uses
Primary variable to consider when evaluating collections
Cut-off Point
Core collection (items that are used)
Noncore collection (items that aren’t used)
Establish an exact time point based upon type of library, subject area, circulation, and other criteria, which determines whether a book is core or noncore
Keeping-Level
Percentage of predicted use to be maintained after weeding a collection
“Level of future use”
Research collections 97% (the rest goes to storage)
Diversity of Opinions
Collections should be kept completely intact
Weeded gingerly by professionals only, using good judgment, not rules!
“Newer” Guidelines
Weeding should increase circulation
Speed of access and accuracy in retrieval is improved by weeding
Items least likely to be used in the future should be removed