Weeding clarification

Hello,

Collection Development would like to clear up some questions about which items are already approved for discard.   There has been some confusion over the distinction between items that are published before 2005 (10 years old or older) versus items that haven’t checked out since 2005 (not circulated in 10 years or longer). 

As you know, our Collection Policy states that items must be approved by Collection Development before they can be discarded in the system and then stamped and boxed.   Items already approved for discard by CD include Items in poor condition and superseded reference titles.    

In addition, items that have been in our system for 10 years or more and which have not circulated for 10 years or more are automatically approved for discard unless they represent the system’s last copy.   Please identify these items by running the Collection Check report in Collection HQ.  Some of you may remember running this report when we first got Collection HQ.   I have attached the procedures for running this report.

If the item shows LAST COPY on the report, do not discard it until CD has approved discard.  Let CD know and we can run the same report and either approve items for discard or see if the copy is needed for Central.

To sum up:  Please know that items that are published before 2005 (10 years old or over) are not automatically approved for discard.  Items that haven’t checked out since 2005  (not circulated in 10 years) are automatically approved for discard unless they show LAST COPY on the Collection Check report.   When we are able to weed items in good condition, you may begin running your Collection Check reports.    Many of these items will also turn up missing, so checking the shelves will help clean up the catalog as well.

When we do begin weeding items in good condition again on a regular basis, we will be glad to help you weed newer nonfiction that is dated or has poor circulation as well as items that don’t “date,” based on other criteria such as circulation figures and the CREW guidelines.

As always, let us know if there are any questions.

Fred Schumacher

Senior Manager of Library Materials Services