Weeding Popular Materials Collections

To register for this webinar please follow this link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/6117645962701/WN_lAwnpEjZTCKKJotuDMckgQ. Sessions are free and available only to members of the Michigan library community. Registrants will receive instructions and a link to attend the session directly from PCI after they register.

When it comes to books, we all like to buy! However, selecting materials is only half of the collection development process. Book hoarding does not create a useful collection. Weeding, or deselecting materials, must receive equal and continuous attention as selection to have a truly patron driven collection that serves its community. As increasing demands tax libraries’ limited resources, every item in a physical collection must justify its shelf space; while every item, both physical and digital, vies for patrons’ time and attention. We’ll discuss practical advice for weeing popular materials collections for youth or adults across formats. Along the way, I’ll debunk some popular weeding excuses.

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• articulate to internal and external stakeholders that weeding equally as important as important to selection to collection development
• implement logical, rigorous weeding doctrines within their popular materials collections
• weed to create space for new collections, highlight materials, and increase circulation with confidence
• promote patron driven collection policies and revitalize collections

Who will Benefit from this Program:

• All staff that interact with the collection and the public
• Staff who select for the collection
• Staff who maintain the collection

Instructor: Karen Toonen is the Collection Services Manager at Naperville Public Library, the second highest circulating public library in Illinois. Throughout her time as a Readers Advisory Assistant, an Adult Services Librarian, and in Technical Services, Karen has remained focused on collections. Karen has presented extensively on weeding and other collection development aspects at the regional, state, and national level. Her service on the Adult Reading Round Table's Steering Committee has not only allowed her to learn about weeding from colleagues across northern Illinois but also informed her philosophy that weeding and readers advisory go hand in hand.

PCI Webinars are recorded and available to members of the Michigan library community in the Library of Michigan's Niche Staff Skills Academy about a week after they air. New webinars will be in the New category for several weeks. You do not need to register for a webinar in order to view it later in the Staff Skills Academy.

This project is made possible by grant funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the State of Michigan through the Library of Michigan.