Collection Evaluation and Weeding
Melisa Eichele
Weeding the 550-560 Collection at CVES
- 550-551: Earth - 36
- 551.2: Volcanoes - 20
- 551.2-551.3: Earthquakes and Erosion - ( E & E) 30
- 551.4-551.46: Desserts and Mountains - ( D & M) 30
- 551.45-551.46: Oceans - 34
- 551.47-551.49: Rivers, Floods, and Water - 30
- 551.5: Meteorology - 26
- 551.51-551.6: Natural Disasters and Climate - ( ND & C) 85
- 552-559: Rocks and Minerals - 71
Data Evaluation and Weeding Strategy
The publication date was not the main factor influencing the circulation rate. The topic, reading level, and performance standards influenced the circulation rate of each section. For example:
Weather and Climate is addressed in multiple grades beginning with first grade. This section has the highest circulation rate and the highest number of books.
S1E1. Earth Science
Students will observe, measure, and communicate weather data to see patterns in weather and climate.
S4E4. Earth Science
Students will analyze weather charts/maps and collect weather data to predict weather events and infer patterns and seasonal changes551.55 Hurricanes and Tornadoes was published in 1998. This book has been checked out of the library 39 times in the last 10 years.
551.6 Weather published in 2012 has been checked out of the library 25 times in the last 10 years.
Another trend with low circulation numbers is the reading level of the books. First level readers on topics without correlating performance standards were not circulated.
551.5 A Hot Day was published in 2000
551.5 A Sunny Day was published in 1999
Neither of these books have been checked out of the library in the last 10 years. The kindergarten curriculum does not include weather.
My weeding strategy involved multiple components. First I looked at the entire section and looked for damaged or "Ugly" books. Then I pulled the report and looked at the circulation rate. I focused my attention on the lowest circulation rates and looked for publication date, reading level, and curriculum support.
Georgia Performance Standards
The books in section 550-560 are reference and research books. The books are used in the classroom and used by students to learn factual information. The following standards were used to help guide my decision to weed specific books.
S1E1. Earth Science
Students will observe, measure, and communicate weather data to see patterns in weather and climate.
a. Identify different types of weather and the characteristics of each type.
b. Investigate weather by observing, measuring with simple weather instruments (thermometer, wind vane, rain gauge), and recording weather data (temperature, precipitation, sky conditions, and weather events) in a periodic journal or on a calendar seasonally.
c. Correlate weather data (temperature, precipitation, sky conditions, and weather events) to seasonal changes.
S4E3. Earth Science
Students will differentiate between the states of water and how they relate to the water cycle and weather.
a. Demonstrate how water changes states from solid (ice) to liquid (water) to gas (water vapor/steam) and changes from gas to liquid to solid.
b. Identify the temperatures at which water becomes a solid and at which water becomes a gas.
c. Investigate how clouds are formed.
d. Explain the water cycle (evaporation, condensation, and precipitation).
e. Investigate different forms of precipitation and sky conditions. (rain, snow, sleet, hail, clouds, and fog).
S4E4. Earth Science
Students will analyze weather charts/maps and collect weather data to predict weather events and infer patterns and seasonal changes.
a. Identify weather instruments and explain how
each is used in gathering weather data and making forecasts (thermometer, rain gauge, barometer, wind vane, anemometer).
b. Using a weather map, identify the fronts, temperature, and precipitation and use the information to interpret the weather conditions.
c. Use observations and records of weather conditions to predict weather patterns throughout the year.
d. Differentiate between weather and climate.
Weed List
This book is almost 30 years old and was published in 1987. There are 12 copies of this book. Magic School Bus is a popular series, but there are many copies. According to the reports, seven of the copies have not been in circulation in the past 10 years. Three of the copies have been in circulation less than three times. The number of copies supports simultaneous use in the classroom. Using the MUSTY acronym, this book is superseded by newer works and the classrooms would choose a newer title to use for lessons. I would downsize to three copies.
Twisters by Kate Hayden
This book was published in 2000 and is 16 years old. There are two copies in the library. One copy has a high circulation rate of 24 in the last 10 years. The second copy has been in circulation two times in the past 10 years. Using the MUSTY acronym, the book with the low circulation is also Ugly. The binding is torn and frayed. There is water damage on the back cover. The front cover is dirty and stained. The fourth grade science curriculum does study weather but the standard does not include a specific area on tornadoes.
S4E4. Earth Science
Students will analyze weather charts/maps and collect weather data to predict weather events and infer patterns and seasonal changes.
Weeding this book down to one copy would not interfere with classroom curriculum support.
Where Do Puddles Go? by Fay Robinson
This book is 20 years old and was published in 1995. In the past 10 years this book has not been in circulation one time. Where Do Puddles Go? is a beginning reader book for pre-school or kindergarten age students. The description of the water cycle is extremely basic. The early grade don't learn about the water cycle and the book is not appropriate for the fourth grade students to use as a research book.
S4E3. Earth Science
Students will differentiate between the states of water and how they relate to the water cycle and weather.This book does not support the curriculum. Using the MUSTY acronym the book is Trivial and is not appropriate for My Collection.
How the Rock Cycle Works by Bethany Bryan
This book is seven years old and was published in 2009. There are six copies of this book in the library. None of these books have circulated more than one time in the last 10 years. The Rocks and Minerals Section in large with 71 books total. These books are not among the favorites. Using the MUSTY acronym the book is Superseded. There are duplicate copies and the collection could be reduced to two books without interfering with the classroom curriculum.
School Property Disposal
The first step is approval from the principal. Then the media specialist sends a Surplus Pickup Request to the school district Warehouse and Printing Service Department. The materials are picked up and taken back to the warehouse. The warehouse coordinator then goes through the following steps to clear out the item:
- Send the materials to another school for use.
- Sell the items
- Donate the items.