Collection Development
Collection Development is a continuous process. It is necessary to keep a high quality collection that meets the needs of students and teachers. Through the collection development process, the librarian is able to see what sections are meeting the needs of the school community and what sections need improvement. Several parts make up this process: school analysis, collection assessment, weeding, and selection of materials. A school analysis provides information about the needs of students. A collection analysis provides information about the age of materials, number of materials, and circulation data. Weeding is the process of removing books from the collection. Selection of materials involves careful review of new books to be purchased. One method to help with collection development is the CREW method: Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding.
Following this five year collection assessment plan will ensure the process remains continuous.
2018-2019 500,600
2020-2021 700,800
2021-2022 900, Biography
2022-2023 Everybody, 000, 100, 200, 300, 400
2023-2024 Fiction
Following this five year collection assessment plan will ensure the process remains continuous.
2018-2019 500,600
2020-2021 700,800
2021-2022 900, Biography
2022-2023 Everybody, 000, 100, 200, 300, 400
2023-2024 Fiction
Weeding
The purpose of weeding is to remove materials that no longer match the curriculum, are dated, and are worn. The school's needs are constantly changing, so the library's collection must continuously change to meet those needs. Weeding allows the collection to stay current, accurate, and physically attractive.
Guidelines
When deciding what to weed follow the X/Y/MUSTIE formula that the CREW method uses.
X = Maximum acceptable age in years
Y = Maximum acceptable years without usage/circulation
M = Misleading and/or factual inaccuracies
U = Ugly - Worn out beyond repair
S = Superseded by a new edition or better source
T = Trivial - No discernible literary or scientific value
I = Irrelevant to the needs and interests of the community
E = Elsewhere - Easily obtained from another source
Guidelines
When deciding what to weed follow the X/Y/MUSTIE formula that the CREW method uses.
X = Maximum acceptable age in years
Y = Maximum acceptable years without usage/circulation
M = Misleading and/or factual inaccuracies
U = Ugly - Worn out beyond repair
S = Superseded by a new edition or better source
T = Trivial - No discernible literary or scientific value
I = Irrelevant to the needs and interests of the community
E = Elsewhere - Easily obtained from another source
Below is a sheet that helps with the MUSTIE formula.
If a book meets one of the following criteria, it needs to be weeded.
Do not weed (if the item is in good or excellent physical condition)
Non-print materials
Schedule
General weeding can be done throughout the year. Spend about fifteen minutes each week weeding shelves. The schedule below will help keep track of what sections to weed during the year.
September 000-100
October 101-200
November 201-300
December 301-400
January 401-500
February 501-600
March 601-700
April 701-800
May 801-999
June - August Fiction, REF, PRO
Disposal
- Is in poor physical condition
- Has not been circulated in the last five years and there is no likelihood that it will because of curricular changes or student needs/interests
- Is outdated in content or accuracy
- Is mediocre or poor in quality
- Is inappropriate in reading level
- Duplicates information which is no longer in heavy demand
- Is superseded by new or revised information
- Is outdated and/or unattractive format, design, graphics, and illustrations
- Contains information which is inaccessible because it lacks a table of contents, adequate indexing, and searching capabilities
- Is not selected in accordance with general selection criteria
- No longer supports curriculum or otherwise necessary
- Contains bias or stereotypes
Do not weed (if the item is in good or excellent physical condition)
- Classics
- Materials published about the school or community which may be considered archival
- Works by local authors
- Memorial gifts
Non-print materials
- The same guidelines for print materials should be used.
- Audiovisual equipment should be removed when it is beyond repair, has outlived the usefulness of its function, and can be replaced by more effective equipment.
Schedule
General weeding can be done throughout the year. Spend about fifteen minutes each week weeding shelves. The schedule below will help keep track of what sections to weed during the year.
September 000-100
October 101-200
November 201-300
December 301-400
January 401-500
February 501-600
March 601-700
April 701-800
May 801-999
June - August Fiction, REF, PRO
Disposal
- Have weeded copy records removed from catalog system
- Do not stamp "Discard or "Withdrawn" on books.
- Box weeded materials in strong boxes.
- Label boxes clearly.
- Prepare a Transfer Requisition and attach a paper copy to each box (see below).
Information on this page was taken and/or adapted from the Baltimore County Public Schools Librarians Resource-PD Wiki, Washington County Library Media Policies and Procedures Guide, and Worcester County Library Media Manual.
Works Cited
"Collection Maintenance: Weeding and Inventory." BCPS Librarians Resource-PD Wiki, Baltimore County Public Schools,
bcpslis.pbworks.com/w/page/103157212/Collection%20Maintenance%3A%20Weeding%20and%20Inventory. Accessed 11 Jul. 2018.
"Hints for Weeding Print and Non-print Materials." Library Media Manual, Worcester County Public Schools, pp. 203-204.
"Library Media Development Plan." WCPS Library Media Policies and Procedures Guide: Collection Development, Washington County Public Schools, 2017, pp. 2,
libguides.wcps.k12.md.us/LMGuide/CollectionDevelopment. Accessed 11 Jul. 2018.
"Selection Guidelines for School Library Media Centers." BCPS Librarians Resource-PD Wiki, Baltimore County Public Schools, bcpslis.pbworks.com/w/file/89801849/selection2014.docx. Accessed 11 Jul. 2018.
"T-Req Weeded Materials." BCPS Librarians Resource-PD Wiki, Baltimore County Public Schools, bcpslis.pbworks.com/w/file/95498051/T-Req%20Weeded%20Materials.docx. Accessed 11
Jul. 2018.
"Weeding Policy for Library Media Center Resources and Equipment; Procedures for Discards." Library Media Manual, Worcester County Public Schools, pp. 202.
bcpslis.pbworks.com/w/page/103157212/Collection%20Maintenance%3A%20Weeding%20and%20Inventory. Accessed 11 Jul. 2018.
"Hints for Weeding Print and Non-print Materials." Library Media Manual, Worcester County Public Schools, pp. 203-204.
"Library Media Development Plan." WCPS Library Media Policies and Procedures Guide: Collection Development, Washington County Public Schools, 2017, pp. 2,
libguides.wcps.k12.md.us/LMGuide/CollectionDevelopment. Accessed 11 Jul. 2018.
"Selection Guidelines for School Library Media Centers." BCPS Librarians Resource-PD Wiki, Baltimore County Public Schools, bcpslis.pbworks.com/w/file/89801849/selection2014.docx. Accessed 11 Jul. 2018.
"T-Req Weeded Materials." BCPS Librarians Resource-PD Wiki, Baltimore County Public Schools, bcpslis.pbworks.com/w/file/95498051/T-Req%20Weeded%20Materials.docx. Accessed 11
Jul. 2018.
"Weeding Policy for Library Media Center Resources and Equipment; Procedures for Discards." Library Media Manual, Worcester County Public Schools, pp. 202.