The Need To Weed
FRIT 7332 Collection Evaluation and Weeding K.Prentice
Content Focus and Justification
From the informational content section of my school's library media center I have selected books from the 301-325 section of Social Sciences to weed. Based on the context of this section, students are not automatically drawn to checking out books related to this topic. The books in this area are related to some elementary school standards, however, the checkout rate is low for these books.
Evaluation: Use of Data
In this Social Science sections there were 55 books shelved together. In the 301-325 section, there were 46 books. On the day I did my weeding, six books were checked out, all by the same teacher. The books that were checked out were two books about Elizabeth Cady Stanton, three books titled: Local Government, National Government, State Government all by Ermestine Giesecke, and one book entitled Vote!, in which we have two copies.
When I generated reports from your automation system the book that was most checked out (27 times) was The Brave Escape of Ellen and William Craft. After further exploring the book, I found that this book is a “graphic novel”; in which our media specialist keeps on a highlighted area of the library due the higher interest amount our student population. This book is an AR book (which students tend to check out more) and it is on the level of 3.6 which is an average book for 3-5 graders to select.
Evaluation: Curricular Needs
Seeing that the most popular booked checked out in this section was a graph novel, I suggest that our media center try to get more graphic novels related to explain the importance of Americans sharing certain central democratic beliefs and principles, both personal and civic. In addition, books that explain the responsibilities of a citizen citizen’s rights are protected under the U.S. Constitution. Another area where there is limited interests is about how life changed in America at the turn of the century. By having books that are on the student’s level and grab their interest, perhaps books that describe the reasons people emigrated to the United States, from where they emigrated, and where they settled, would help meet the needs of the students.
Weeding List
Immigrant Kids
Immigrant Kids by Russell Freedman
AR Level- 6.9
Checked out- 1 time
We acquired this book on March 13, 2001. Due to the circulation statistics of being checked out only once in its time in our Media Center (neither the current or previous year); I feel this book should be weeded out. The AR level is higher than most of our students should be reading, and do not meet the needs of our students. The book was published in 1995, and being 21 years old, it is and older book that should be weeded out.
Immigrants
Immigrants by Martin W. Sandler ; introduction by James H. Billington.
AR Level- 7.6
Checked out- 1 time
This book is 21 years old, being published in 1995. Our media center acquired this book June 11, 2005. It has been checked out once in 2013. Due to the higher AR level, and low circulation statistics; this book should be weeded.
The Slave Trade
The Slave Trade by Rachael Hanel
AR Level- 8.6
Checked out- 2 times
This book is newer to our library, being acquired in March of 2013, however it has a very high AR level. The two times the book was checked out was this year twice by the same student, back to back. (Ironically, the student is a member of my class this year and is reading on a 1.6 level. He checked it out during our study of the Civil War earlier this fall. He did not take an AR test on the book.) The book was published in 2008. Due to the extremely high level of the book, and low circulation statistics, this book should be weeded out.
Riding to Washington
Riding to Washington by Gwenyth Swain ; illustrated by David Geister
AR Level- 3.8
Checked out- 2 times
This book was published in 2008, and has been in our media center for almost six years. We acquired the book on April 28, 2010. Over the six years, the book has been checked out twice. This book is in the average range of AR levels, being a 3.8, however the book does not seem to be popular. The last time it was checked out was in September the previous school year. I feel that the students are not naturally drawn to this book due to the lack of interest. It should be weeded out of the media center. The only other option, I see, is to highlight the book in the months of January and February due to the content of the book related to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Kids at Work : Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor
Kids at Work : Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor by Russell Freedman ; with photographs by Lewis Hine
AR Level- 7.5
Checked out- 0 times
This book is comprised of text that accompany photographs that show the use of children as industrial workers. In addition the book includes the story of Lewis W. Hine who took these photographs and whose life work made significant difference in the lives of others. Due to the high AR level and low interests level of the students, this book should be weeded. It has been in the media center since March 13, 2001 and has never been checked out. A fifth grade teacher may pull this book to use as a visual aid during instruction about American life, however it has never been used that way (or any way) in the 15 years of being at the school.
If Your Name was Changed at Ellis Island
If Your Name was Changed at Ellis Island by Ellen Levine ; illustrated by Wayne Parmenter
AR Level- 6.4
Checked out- 0 times
Added to our media center on March 13, 2001, this book has never been checked out. The AR level is a bit high than majority of our students read, and due to the low circulation statistics, this book should be weeded. In addition, the cover the book may not be appealing to today’s reader with a bland, old looking, cover.
Disposal
Based on the MCSD policy, in order to keep the media center collections organized and updated, materials that are out-of-date, severely worn or damaged or no longer useful in the school curriculum program should be continuously and responsibly pulled from the shelves and consequently withdrawn from the resource collection. By looking at the books in the Social Science section, and using strategies found in articles such as Dickinson: Crying Over Spilled Milk, I evaluated the books that no longer are useful in our media center. There is not a surplus of certain materials in the school library media center, however the books are old, and not being checked out. Even though these specific kinds of materials support an individual school curriculum, the levels of the books are not in the correct range for our students and should be disposed.