The Reference Collection Currency, Substitution, Deselection

1
The Reference CollectionCurrency, Substitution,
Deselection!

• Basic Library Techniques
• May 16 23, 2007
• Glenda Schaake gschaake_at_mhl.org

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Changes in reference services

• Online access
• Email Reference
• Chat Reference
• Expectations of your community

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Why weed??

• Collection needs to be visually attractive
• Resources need to be current
• Reduce clutter on shelves
• Space
• Reference vs. Circulation

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Why it doesnt get done!

• It takes too much time
• I cant bear to throw away books
• Im worried someone will get upset if I get rid
  of anything
• I dont feel comfortable getting rid of public
  property
• If I toss it today, Ill need it tomorrow
• If I weed, I wont have enough books
• Weeding means admitting mistakes

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Methods

• CREWContinuous Review, Evaluation, Weeding
• MUSTIE misleading, ugly, superceded, trivial,
  irrelevant, elsewhere!

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The Process

• Weed on a regular basis
• Do a quick run through for oldest materials
• Do not weed in isolation
• Set a time frame
• Involve other staff members