Weeding+(Deselection)+and+Evaluation

A. Purpose
The CDO High School Library recognizes the importance of maintaining a collection of current, appropriate, and useful materials. Therefore, an ongoing evaluation of the collection will be performed in order to remove or replace materials that are no longer useful. The following guidelines have been developed to aid in the weeding process; however, the final decision concerning the removal or replacement of material rests with the CDO High School Librarian(s). Faculty will be notified when items are targeted for discard and given the opportunity to either appeal for the items to remain in the main collection or take these items to their individual classrooms.

B. Guidelines
1. Weeding by Appearance * Worn-out volumes: dirty, brittle, yellow pages; missing pages; tattered covers; etc. * Badly bound volumes: soft, pulpy paper and/or shoddy binding * Badly printed works * Books of antiquated appearance which might discourage use * Audiovisual materials with missing or broken pieces

2. Weeding of Superfluous or Duplicate Volumes * Unneeded duplicate titles * Older editions * Highly specialized books (when library holds more general or up-to-date volumes on the same subject) * Books on subjects of little interest to the local community as determined through a needs assessment * Books which no longer relate to the curriculum (if specialized)

3. Weeding Based on Poor Content * Information is dated * Information is inaccurate * Stereotypes are presented in a derogatory rather than educational or historical context * Book is poorly written

4. Weeding According to Use * Nonfiction: Book has not been checked out within last 10 years * Fiction: Book has not been checked out within last 5 years (classics excluded)

Categories of Books which may be quickly outdated: * 000s: computers * 100s: psychology (especially popular literature) * 300s: college & career materials * 400s: grammar with dated examples and/or illustrations * 500s: astronomy, chemistry, physics, biology * 600s: electronics, engineering, health, technology * 900s: popular biographies * Clerical errors in selection/acquisition

Categories of Books which are not as quickly outdated: * dictionaries * biographical sources * literary criticism * classics of literature * foreign language literature * art books * local history/geography * books providing general principles of a subject or discipline

5. Also see CREW guidelines-Appendix E

Evaluation is an ongoing process and it is the librarians’ responsibility to have a thorough knowledge of the existing collection in order to effectively provide students, staff and faculty with the best possible resources and information.
 * C.Evaluation **