If you were a Librarian, which criteria would you use to remove books from the shelf/catalog?
Asked by
12Oaks (
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February 22nd, 2011
For the sake of arguement, let’s say all books are the same size. The Library you work for is at full capacity, and 10 new books come in that need to be shelved, so 10 would have to be removed. How would you do it? Would you replace like with like (Two mysteries for two mysteries)? By author? If it were me, I would first remove any duplicates. Then, any like books. My local Library has like a hundred books on Abraham Lincoln, but none on William Henry Harrison or Benjemin Harrison. Seeing there could only be so much that could be said about Lincoln, I may just go ahead and take 10 of those out. Barring that, I’d just see which 10 books have gone the longest since their last checkout and that would be the choice. Adding space or constructing a new Libary building isn’t in the budget—all the money was spent on buying 10 books. LOL
Please, this isn’t a question about First Amendment Rights or censorship or the like. Just kind of a problem solving thing. We may all have different ideas, and am curious as to other ways it could be done.
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7 Answers
I would definitely start with the longest since check out, but then I would consider “popular” fiction that is dated for the discard pile
Get rid of the most frequently borrowed books. If they’re that popular the local skinflints can go and buy a copy themselves.
If I were a librarian, I would remove books that fell into one of these categories: duplicates of no longer popular titles, books that haven’t circulated in many years, books with outdated information, books that smell or are in lousy condition. Since I am a librarian, I use all those criteria in weeding and am also cognizant of not removing books that have historical value or are important to the collection. Now – if I were a rich man….
@janbb Since you are a Librian, may I ask you something? This is not for arguing, but would like an experts opinion. The Library I cited is in Indiana. The two Presidents from Indiana, the Harrisons, do not have any biography of them in the Library. Would you think they should remove one of the at least hundred (no exaggeration) Lincoln books to make room for the hometown (or State, any) Presidents? I know William Henry Harrison was only President for 30 days, but still…..
Yes, I would think they should have copies of Harrison biographies in their collection.
Are there any good bios of the Harrisons?
@anartist I wouldn’t knowm our Library doesn’t shelve any.
Seriously, though. They do have bios on Wilson, Grant, McKinley, Pierce, and Andrew Johnson. I just wonder why they have hundreds on Lincoln, about that many on Washington, a whole lot on Kennedy, but none on the two presidents who are from the state the Library is in. Amazon.com has this WHH”
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