Collection Evaluation and Weeding
100's Philosophy & Psychology
Focus & Justification
The non-fiction section of the media center is one area that needs constant attention. Material becomes outdated very quickly, yet students are now required to read more non-fiction pieces under the newly titled Georgia Standards of Excellence (formally known as Common Core Standards). The 100 section, Philosophy & Psychology, is an area in which many of the books available do not meet the needs or requirements for the Middle School state standards. Therefore, the need to "weed" these books is ever more important.
Evaluation: Use of Data
130 - Parapsychology & Occultism
Total # of books: 8
Earliest Pub. Date: 1978
Most Recent Pub. Date: 1994
Average Pub. Date: 1989
150 - Psychology
Total # of books: 25
Earliest Pub. Date: 1978
Most Recent Pub. Date: 2013
Average Pub. Date: 1992
170 - Ethics
Total # of books: 9
Earliest Pub. Date: 1985
Most Recent Pub. Date: 2009
Average Pub. Date: 1991
Number Of Times Each Book Was Checked Out
Most Recent Check Out Date
Evaluation: Curricular Needs
Over half of the books in this selection do not apply to any standard in the middle school curriculum. Although many of these titles are outdated, some of them continue to be checked out by students for "pleasure" or "interest" reading (i.e. Ghost Stories, and Chicken Soup for the Soul). Three books in this section apply to the 8th grade Georgia History standards while only five books apply to the Health Standards for 6th-8th grade. While there are no "standards" for our Counselor, there are nine books that could be used while working with students for specific needs (i.e. anger management, stress, being a popular person, becoming a teenager). Even though 40% of this section could be used to support the curriculum, the material alone is outdated. Once this section is weeded of the material that is not related to the standards, it will create valuable space for material that will enhance student learning.
Books to Weed
After reviewing the data and the guidelines from the CCBOE Media Manual, I applied the following criteria to "weed" out a total of 19 books.
1. The book has not circulated(checked-out) since 2007.
2. The book has been checked out in the past five years, but with little circulation(three times or less).
3. Published before 2001.
Click Here: Books to Weed 100's to view.
Disposal of Weeded Books
Policy and Procedures for discarded items can be found in the Columbia County School System Media Manual Handbook.
Suggested guidelines for weeding the 100's section
1. Value is determined by use
2. Most "un"-scholarly works are useless after ten years
Summary of "Discard Procedures for Materials Identified as Weeds"
1. In some instances, parts of discarded titles may be ―recycled.
2. Black out call numbers on the spines of print materials, remove all school
identification, and stamp ―"DISCARD" across title pages.
3. Delete discarded items from the computer database.
4. Run a report of deleted items.
5. Purge deleted items. Media Specialist have three choices:
a. Allow teachers to choose discarded books for their classrooms if desired.
b. They can be given to students. Consider whether the information is still
accurate and modern.
c. They can be discarded, preferably when textbooks are picked up each year. If they
cannot be picked up at that time, they can be donated or trashed.
**In no cases may books be sold**