Collection Evaluation and Weeding
Literature 800 - 840 by Kelsey Kicklighter
Why Literature?
As the Media Clerk at Islands High School, I am pretty hands on when it comes to the non-fiction section. We don't have a computer specifically dedicated to the online catalog, so often students will ask me when they want to look up something in non-fiction. I keep track of which sections are being used the most (Animals and Manga, hands down) and which are being used the least, which brings us back to literature.
The 800s are in a high-traffic location, so their lack of circulation isn't based on students not knowing that they are there. This section just seems to lack appeal for teachers and students alike. I was an English major in college, so this area holds a special place in my heart and I would love to revamp it and make it a more useful and appreciated section.
Data Evaluation
The average publication date wasn't too bad, considering that this is not a section whose books go out of date quickly. But the lack of circulation is what really concerns me.
800-809
- Total Items - 56
- Total Circulation - 57
- Average Publication Date - 2006
810-819
- Total Items - 242
- Total Circulation - 88
- Average Publication Date - 2005
820-829
- Total Items - 110
- Total Circulation - 31
- Average Publication Date - 2007
830-839
- Total Items - 3
- Total Circulation - 0
- Average Publication Date - 2009
Curricular Needs
Items to Weed
The following list is my proposal of titles to weed from the system. None of these titles have ever been circulated. Two of the titles have been marked as lost and just need to be removed from the catalog. Several have been superseded by newer titles, and the others are either physically unappealing or there are other titles similar in the collection that have had more circulations.
A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (2007) - Similar Titles
How to Give a Speech (1994) - Similar Titles
America's Favorite Poems (2000) - Similar Titles
I feel a little jumpy around you (1999) - Old, worn
Poetry Speaks Who I Am (2010) - Lost
World Poetry: An Anthology (1998) - Similar Titles
Great Monologues for Young Actors (1992) - Newer volumes
Sensational Scenes for Teens (2007) - Unappealing
Literary Savannah (1998) - Outdated
Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson (1960) - Two copies, newer issue
The Poetry of Robert Frost (1979) - Newer collections
More Than Friends: Poems From Him and Her (2008) - Lost
Favorite Poems of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1992) - Newer issue
Self-reliance, and Other Essays (1993) - Worn, similar titles
The Collected Tales and Poems of Edgar Allen Poe (1992) - Newer issues
Poetry Out Loud (1995) - Worn, similar titles
Weeding Policies
- Remove the barcode, spine label, and card pocket from the materials to be discarded and strike through any identifying marks.
- Stamp“Withdrawn” inside the front and back cover of the book or on the front of audio-visual materials.
- A record of weeded materials is to be maintained in the media center and an end-of-year report filed with the system Media and Technology Integration Manager.
- Weeded materials will be marked in the circulation management system as discarded for one year before being removed.
Afterwards, materials can be donated for student or classroom use. If no students or teachers want to take the materials, they are to be recycled by the district. I would offer the books to English teachers first, and then offer them to students to adopt into their personal libraries. I also have an idea for smash poetry projects for the Writing Club, where they can use books to make blackout poetry or cut and paste words from several books into new poems. Any leftover items I would offer to the Art teacher, who is very creative and could probably use them for a number of projects. The pieces and books remaining should then be recycled.